| Problematic | 
 enlarge | Artist: All
Label: Epitaph / Ada
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy Used: $3.36
You Save: $8.62 (72%)
New (24) Used (19) from $3.36
Avg. Customer Rating:  13 reviews
Sales Rank: 153371
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 045778658527
EAN: 0457786585274
ASIN: B00004TCOL
Release Date: June 6, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Carry You - All, Alvarez, Karl | | • | She Broke My Dick - All, Stevenson, Bill | | • | Better Than That - All, Alvarez, Karl | | • | www.sara - All, Stevenson, Bill | | • | Roir - All, Alvarez, Karl | | • | What Are You For? - All, Alvarez, Karl | | • | Stupid Kind of Love - All, Stevenson, Bill | | • | Alive - All, Price, Chad | | • | Real People - All, Stevenson, Bill | | • | Lock 'Em Away - All, Alvarez, Karl | | • | Teresa - All, Stevenson, Bill | | • | I Want Out - All, Egerton, Stephen | | • | Crucifiction - All, Alvarez, Karl | | • | The Skin - All, Alvarez, Karl | | • | Nothin' to Live For - All, Stevenson, Bill | | • | Never Too - All, Price, Chad | | • | Make Believe - All, Stevenson, Bill | | • | Drive Away - All, Price, Chad |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Just as every punk bank should send a royalty check the Ramones' way, so should every power-pop punk band send "respect" money to All. Formed in the late 1980s from the ashes of the Descendents after singer Milo Aukerman finally threw in the towel, All served up similarly edgy guitar riffs smoothed over by incredibly catchy melodies and sincere lovelorn vocals. By the early '90s, after several singers had come and gone, Chad Price solidified the attack, and the band has since consistently served up a mix of songs that either wear their hearts or keep a joke up their sleeves. Problematic is another strong collection--18 tunes that slip past, landing catchy hooks and even (gasp!) poignant commentary on punk-rock lives where aging is heading over the suburban speed limit. For example, "Alive" stresses a joyful melody, but underneath, these lines are delivered: "I never will forget the day / you heard your brother died." There's also social commentary: the indifference of the rich and powerful toward the poor and the weird ("Lock 'Em Away"), religious intolerance ("Crucifiction"), the struggle of minorities to assimilate ("The Skin"), and, just in case you thought they'd forgotten how to laugh, "She Broke My Dick," which isn't about anything more than what you're probably thinking. --Rob O'Connor
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| Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 Don't buy it...you'll regret it... July 1, 2000
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
You can trust me on this...I'm a huge ALL fan...I loved "Pummel", "Mass Nerder", "Breaking Things", "Percolater", and "Allroy's Revenge". I bought this record thinking it would contain great (but odd) catchy pop punk, typical of what the band usually writes. It's nothing like that at all. There isn't ONE catchy song on this record...and every single song sounds the same. ALL are usually a very diverse band (listen to "Pummel" and "Breaking Things" if you don't know what I mean). "Problematic" has great preachy lyrics but the music is FLAT. A waste of money. And yes...it most certainly is problematic.
A Single with a bunch of bad b-sides September 26, 2000
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
I was a huge, HUGE fan of this band while I was in high school, and continue to follow their music, and career closely. The early CD's, especially the ones with Scott Reynold's on vocals, contained some of the most innovative music that was ever recorded in the late eighties/early nineties. Insanely hyper, completely catchy revved up pop-songs. Their two shining moments, 1989's "Allroy's Revenge" and 1990's "Allroy Saves" contain some of the most honest, and brilliant two-minute pop gems ever recorded. Songs like "Fool", "Frog", "Mary", and "No Traffic". Simple songs made complex by a band that can play with authority. A rhythm section that moves like an erupting volcano, and a guitarist whose spastic playing fits in perfectly. Ah, those were the days. Unfortunately, "Problematic" sounds nothing like any of the old All CD's. Instead the product is a sonic barrage of anger and personal opinions which sounds like Bad Religion on an off day and minus a thesarus. The only redeamable tune on this album is the great "The Skin" which grants the one star rating. Besides this the songs are just pretty much throwaways. "She Broke My Dick" is kind of funny, but a funny song only has so much life to it, and the fact that it's positioned in the number two spot, a position on ALL cd's which have held such ace tunes as "Fool", "Just Like Them", and "Nothin'", shows that the once rich song-writing talent this band held may be running thin. Either that or they've pulled a reverse sell-out, or maybe it should be called a Ramones. By dumbing up and simplifying their sound, they can appeal to a broader audience, but long time fans of the band know that they are capable of producing much better work than this. Maybe they should bring in Todd Rundgren to produce their next cd, the Bad Religion CD "The New America" shows that bands like All can really benefit from some outside assistance. Regardless, fans of the older ALL sound won't like this CD. If you're new to the band, buy "Allroy's Revenge" for starters. It's the gift that keeps on giving.
Problematic? You said it! June 19, 2000
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I've always been a staunch defender of ALL and have previously enjoyed everything they have ever done. Sorry to say that this would have to be their worst ever. Absolutely no hooks, not catchy and I found myself shaking my head in disbelief at how most of the songs sounded exactly the same.Sure the lyrics were cool (but more preachy than they have been in the past) but what's the point of good lyrics if you forget the song two minutes after you hear it? God I hope their next is a return to form as this is the most disappointing cd of the year so far.
 its ALLtacular! June 12, 2000
this cd is amazing if you like ALL at ALL you wont be disapointed standout tracks are carry me, www.sara and alive...
 Forget the Naysayers, this album rips! June 28, 2000
Granted, upon first listen, "Problematic" is a bit different for an All album. But take a couple more listens and you will find a classic band refusing to become a novelty act as they mature into a pop powerhouse. No matter what, these guys are the originators, and this is further proven by tracks like "www.Sara," "Make Believe," "Carry You," "Real People," "Alive," "Drive Away," "Teresa," "What Are You For?," and "Never Took." All's new lyrical direction in tracks like "The Skin," "ROIR," and "Lock 'Em Away" are just icing on the cake. Vocalist Chad Price stretches-out on his fourth album with the band. And let's not forget that you will never find a tighter band than Bill Stevenson (drums), Karl Alvarez (bass), and Stephen Egerton (guitar). Egerton especially deserves kudos for his playing here, which is fresh and energetic. This is a punk band that has a bunch of guys who could be playing jazz/fusion (and have! ).
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