Posted: January 4th, 2009
Contributed By: Nick
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Purchase @ Amazon Release Date: December 16, 2008 |
| Saliva is: Josey Scott (Vocals) Wayne Swinny (Guitar) Jonathan Montoya (Guitar) Dave Novotny (Bass) Paul Crosby (Drums) |
Overview: Ever since Saliva’s 2001 debut ‘Every Six Seconds‘ hit stores, the band has certainly clicked with audiences, booming their way to a double platinum rookie effort, two successive gold records, and the ever allusive major label longevity. 7 years and change later since ‘Every Six Seconds‘, the Saliva doperide soldiers on, as the band are set to unleash their fifth album for Island/Def Jam which goes by the name of ‘Cinco Diablo‘. The disc’s lead single “Family Reunion” is currently spinning at rock outlets.
The Good: Gee, uh…. Well, if you want me to be completely honest, the sole bright spots on this burning plane crash are songs dos and tres, “My Own Worst Enemy” (which boasts a Brent Smith cameo) and “Best of Me”. They’re not innovative or emotionally moving. I mean c’mon it’s Saliva. However, there’s no faulting good ‘ole fashioned slabs of rock that are hooky 360 degrees around, which is just what Dr. Saliva ordered on the aforementioned duo of tunes. So we’re done here.
The Bad: Josey Scott was quoted earlier in the year describing ‘Cinco Diablo‘. He stated, “…If you like ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’ and ‘Click Click Boom’ and more dynamic stuff, it’s going to be an ass-whooping of a record. It’s going to be 45 minutes of ass-whooping!” Now tell me, if Josey Scott looked you directly in the eyes and told you all this with a stern sincerity, would you be able to hold back your laughter? I would be pissing my pants right at the word “dynamic”, because ‘Cinco Diablo‘ is not dynamic, nor is it ass-whooping. Actually I’d rather take a swift boot to the can then be forced to listen to this album front to back for a fourth time. I mean, where do you want me to begin here? The fact that “Family Reunion” is a mongoloid collage of Saliva’s previous three singles? The way every “ballad” they have ever done sounds EXACTLY the same. I mean EXACTLY the same. And really, that’s too bad, because the last song on the album “So Long” has the potential to be great. But after suffering through song after shit-stain song, the last thing you’ll be willing to do is give piano-bossed Saliva a chance. Lyrically, ‘Cinco Diablo‘ continues the band’s trend of becoming more rhetorically remedial with each new release. As if the poetics weren’t nauseating enough, we are blessed to have Josey Scott unmercifully croon, wine, and screech them out for us in one of the worst cases of diarrhea of the mouth I’ve heard in years; but don’t you worry, there’s plenty of the predictable “GO’S!” and “HUwAH’s!” you’ve come to expect to spew from Scott’s trap prior to nearly every verse and chorus. The guitar riffs are uninteresting and they aren’t the slightest bit intimidating. Paul Crosby is a force on the drums as always-how is this bad? It’s a simple concept really, that when you squander the talent of the guy who accounts for 90 percent of the total talent in the band, odds are, you’re going to sound pretty bad. Exhibit A: Saliva on ‘Cinco Diablo‘. Anyway, before this gets out offhand I’ll wrap things up with this: ‘Cinco Diablo‘ blows chunks, brah.
Bottomline: I’m not interested in berating ‘Cinco Diablo‘ anymore, because the record is its own poison. Instead I’d like to pose a few questions:
1. Who in the hell let ‘Cinco Diablo‘ happen?
2. Why in God’s name would anyone at IDJMG spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on producer Bob Marlette’s services when they know and worst of all EXPECT to get this result?
3. NOT counting the paychecks, how does Bob Marlette, a guy with a repertoire as esteemed as his, deal with process of making something like this?
4. Did Josey Scott even sing on ‘Cinco Diablo‘ or did they just use ProTools to cherry-pick and glop words and phrases from Saliva’s previous works over top the rest of the guys? Will Josey Scott ACTUALLY SING at a live show ever again?
5. Is having Jonathan Montoya in the group even necessary? Was he even plugged in during the recording of ‘Cinco Diablo‘ or did he simply run around the studio with a Confederate Flag guitar spewing spit everywhere?
There’s a wealth to chew on there but frankly it wouldn’t be worth your time. Before you go out and flush 15 bucks or so down the drain on ‘Cinco Diablo‘, think of the things you could do in those 45 minutes. You could have marathon sex. You could hit the gym. You could write a song. You could clean the dirt out of your fingernails. You could rob a bank. All of these are much more satisfying ways to spend 45 minutes than listening to the pile of piss that is ‘Cinco Diablo‘, and I have faith you’ll figure this all out quickly. In closing, Saliva is a rarity because of how long the band has remained tenured with longtime major label home Island/Def Jam. When I think of invincibility, I think of a diamond, Rocky, or a person who has overcome a serious illness or obstacle, certainly not the band Saliva. If Saliva is the poster for how rock bands can secure major label longevity, then we are all in serious fucking trouble.
TuneLab Rating: 2 out of 10
37 Responses to “Review: Saliva – ‘Cinco Diablo’”
Ouch. I wouldn’t be that harsh, but yeah, it pretty much sucks.
Nick, I have always hated when you exaggerate on the low ratings. But this is spot on, Great Review.
You f–cked up, Saliva. There is nothing more to say.
I think Nick is too harsh on popular bands. If some unknown band has a bad CD it gets a 5, but if a popular band has a bad CD it gets a 2.
HAH! Yes.
A little harsh, but I agree this cd is just bad…
And Mike, I feel like you have take into account expectation at least a little bit when giving the ratings. This is their 5th album, recorded with a big name producer on a major label budget, and this is really the best they could do? If this same album were released as a debut by some unsigned, unknown band, completely self financed, I still wouldn’t consider it a very good album, but I also wouldn’t consider it a big disaster either, there really wasn’t any expectation to begin with. The album is not good, but considering Saliva’s circumstances, it’s just pathetic.
I just finished up my review on this bad boy. Almost exactly the score I had.
this band is soooooooooooo bad
I actually enjoy the album but that’s because I knew what it was going to be. I do find it a little curious that newer bands like Saving Abel, Stereoside, Jet Black Stare, and Rev Theory all get ridiculously high marks from Nick even though, at least IMO, their musical and lyrical content is never too far removed from Saliva, Nickelback, Theory Of A Deadman, or any of the other more prominent bands that always seem to get negative reviews.
Pen…ALL those bands you mention are far better than Saliva imo.
I did like Saliva’s last album a little bit but this one is really below par.
(shrugs)
“I’m not interested in berating ‘Cinco Diablo‘ anymore, because the record is its own poison”, “A whoop-ass record”, and “Bob Marlette” means why there is a roster shuffle so all you got is your ‘all-star’ bands therefore there is a major label crisis going on. Remember Seether’s ‘Karma and Effect’ record was produced by the none other than Bob Marlette in which he wanted, absolutely no profanity involved? Instead, he wants a “squeaky-clean image” is what makes IDJMG spend hundreds of thousands of dollars could compare what most major labes do anywho anyhow anyway. Maybe after hearing *gasp* what that Britney Spears had in store, I decided to shelve the manufactured pop crap after 2003 (or so) and hear what’s “outside the radar” (for a change of fresh air? Why, definitely!).
@Nick
What I didn’t expect is this review has not been this harsh since Velvet Revolver’s ‘Libertad’. Thanks for the interest of giving such a harsh review, but not for such a loooooong time and I take no offense unless what I hear on what the record sounds like sounds true to the review that you’ve got here.
All those bands you named Pen, at least they have singers as far as I can tell. Most of the vocals on this album consist of Josey just talking, or talking loudly.
im pissed because my comment before got deleted for saying s*it haha but anyway
okay listen,
i love saliva. i think this time it’s not their best but its not horrible. they don’t want to sound the same all the time they try new things to see where it leads them, they take risks and i love em for that. i believe no band sucks it just depends on whats your taste. and think about this..people expect bands to have a greatest hit release everytime theyre releasing an album. haha no? thats part of the game. not everything they do will be #1 on the billboard 200 and they have their whole lives ahead of em this is what they do. so why would saliva put out their best work now? in a few years they’ll have nothing. like green day, dookie was amazing after american idiot…whered they go? ya know? theyre dryed out no more ideas. saliva (and every other band for that matter) is loaded. green day was i love em but they rushed it all ya know? well, when you really think about it, it all comes down to opinions. and i believe in saliva =) i have a feeling in the future theyre gong to make the most kickass record theyve ever done and nobody will talk s*it bout em.
but like i said it’s all opinion and think about this too..if every record sounded the same..would you buy it?? josey talks, screams, sings, yells hes trying other things to see where it takes em. sam thing with paul, wayne dave and jon..they experiment. why sound the same everytime? thats boring..think about that haters!
HUWAH!
Gravity, I’ll give you the same response I gave Stretch.
(shrugs)
Fair enough, I’m not here to change your opinion, just justify mine
Nick: You are incorrect in identifying Every Six Seconds as Saliva’s debut, just as they seem to be in calling this album Cinco Diablo. This is their sixth album. The band released a self-titled album in 1997.
Most bands don’t count non-major label releases. Saliva is one of those bands, so you are wrong.
jek328 has a point (if I can get it or not).
Non-major label releases? Saliva were never signed on a major label as their 1997 release was independent at the time.
Here’s a little clip (courtesy of their wikipedia page) to know Forest Law is wrong:
“After competing in the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Grammy Showcase competition, where they advanced to the final round in New York City, the group self-released their self-titled debut album which sold over 10,000 copies in their region, prompting Island Records to take notice”.
I can agree with Mikel – DON’T BET ON YOUR HIGH-HORSE if the 1997 release is tabbed and counted. It ain’t, Forest Law! It’s indie before the majors (like Island) claimed them. OMG!
Ohgreat says the weirdest things. He puts sayings in his posts like “don’t bet on your high horse” that don’t make sense with what he’s saying.
An example I just made up that would be something that ohgreat would say…
“Linkin Park released ‘Minutes To Midnight’ after a 4 year wait in between albums proving that paybacks a bitch.”
thank you ohgreat
basically all im saying is experimenting new things to see what happens isn’t always a bad thing
The only part of this album that earns the title of “good music” is the 30 or so seconds that you can actually hear Brent Smith’s voice in My Own Worst Enemy. Otherwise, spot-on Nick. There are about 30 bands I can think of that could use Saliva’s recording contract and make much better use of it.
@Mike
The closest meaning on “Don’t bet on your high horse” is “come/get (down) off your high horse”. It’s “to stop talking as if you were better or more clever than other people”. Here’s an example of it being used in a sentence:
“Forest Law, it’s time you came down off your high horse and admitted you might have made a mistake that the 1997 release doesn’t count. It’s an indie release before Island claimed them. It makes ‘Every Six Seconds’ as their debut for Island which as soon as success is claimed after “Your Disease” is a hit, reissuing their indie debut in 2003 was to prove on capturing more sales of the success”.
“Linkin Park released ‘Minutes To Midnight’ after a 4 year wait in between albums proving that paybacks a bitch” reminds of what it means for bands like LP and Saliva to get a backlash. This review is the meaning that things are stuck like we’re in 2001.
Jesse, could you list the 30 bands that would make better use than what Saliva is doing to waste their recording contract like they are? Nick, you made your point clear. Don’t put another review that involves Saliva EVER.
Any album sales stats yet?
i think you all are bitter what the refush to sign your CD or give you an autograph
you can’t be serious i’ve bit my tounge long enough is this how you really feel.
or are you just agree with him. i’m not saying he is a bad reviewer i bought a few album on his say so & my gut feeling and i’m glad i got this album before i read his review even though I’m sure I’d still would of bought it.it’s a pretty solid album.yes maybe they released it a little to soon but i glad they did.why crush on Saliva spend that engery and smash Metallica – Death Magnetic cause it not good i buy Saliva new album three more times before i’d every even think of buying Death Magnetic
a why they call it Death Magnetic Death Magnet would make it sound better.not the music itself just the title.they really need to take a few years off or just pass the tourch and stop making music all together.cause the 2 min vocals 8 min guitar solos is old and annoying i not saying the can’t play guitar that an under statment and they have staima.but i don’t like driving some where going in the store and come out few mins later and have the same song on when i get back.you get my point
it just passed 30k in sales.
“The album debuted at #104 on the Billboard 200, making it their lowest-charting album in the band’s history. The album is expected to have sold around 15,000 copies in its first week, as an album 14 places below it moved 13,500″.
30,000 people couldn’t go wrong with Saliva’s latest and it has a crowd type. I’ve watched the Billboard Music Awards one year and that’s the crowd type I knew Saliva has hit and ‘Cinco Diablo’ will hit what will be their 3rd gold record whatever their touring stops will be to fuel it to platinum.
Nick, do you stand by your review 100%?
absolutely
i don’t care what nick or anyone else thinks about saliva. they are badass end of story!
jek328,ohgreat
thanks atleast two people that agreed with me
to be honest, ive always purchased every saliva record thats ever come out because theres always at least 3 or 4 songs that kick alot of ass on each cd (the exception being ‘every 6 seconds’ which has like 5 or 6).i thought ‘blood stained love story’ was the best cd they put out since ‘E6S’ too.but ‘cinco diablo’ just lacks in alot of places.ALOT of places.
hmm interesting, well like i said everyone has their own opinion. you know what would be an interesting conversation if everyone named their favorite(s) saliva song(s) on each of their albums
mine are….
the whole E6S, BIYS, SOTS, BSLS and CD albums
yeah, ima big fan =)
i also love bleed for me, king of my world, time, i walk alone, spy hunter theme and message of love =)
come on lets hear em
E6S- “doperide”
BIYS- “raise up”
SOTS- “carry on”
BSLS- “one more chance”
CD- “my own worst enemy”
I haven’t posted on the site in a long while, but Id like to say one thing: Learn to use proper spelling and grammar if you want to be taken seriously. I don’t know if you are using a translator program or are really just that careless, but it makes your point moot if I have to re-read everything you wrote 4 times to understand it. Hell, don’t most browsers have spell check built in? That being said, this album isn’t Saliva’s best, but for a label like Island, this album will be a cash cow (not to mention the tour they will do in the Spring). They write 3 decent songs, and the rest are filler. Always have been, always will be. You have no idea how crazy people went when Family Reunion came out, and that song sounds like they rehashed everything they’ve ever written into one 3:40 chunk of garbage. Great review Nick, always a pleasure to read, even if the album makes me want to puke.
E6S – “After Me”
BIYS – “Weight of the World”
SOTS – “Razors Edge”
BSLS – “Broken Sunday”
CD – “So Long”
Deuce is right, some of these posts are horribly written. It makes people just pass right over them because they dont want to take the time to get into the 5th grade mindset that is needed to understand them. I’ve also bought every Saliva album leading up to this, and must say that this one is complete trash.
But really… after Back into your system it has been down hill for Saliva. Josey has never been a vocal powerhouse. The last time i saw them i dont think any of them were actually playing. It was ALL tracks. Their song Cheat on me or how could you is getting played here in TN and i just don’t get it. First of all the opening line is the same opening line as the hit song by Saving abel Addicted and the chorus sounds like it was written by a 4 year old. Now how is it that these guys have stayed on a major all this time and there are so many GREAT unsigned bands out there that cant even get a shot?