Several came to the knowledge of this amazing band, whose character traits included threaded bass lines, clean-cut guitar riffs, and sweetly harmonized pop vocals, through their second and more successful single "The Freshman." The song was a agonizing take on the pressures of young adult life, epitomized by unwanted pregnancy, suicide, and lacking relationships. And though the listening audience chose to focus on the individual song, leaving the REAL band basically underexposed, it remains today a classic moment in musical history.

The rest of the album, underestimated by the masses, was nearly flawless when it hit music stores in that summer of '97. The opening track, "Barely (if at all)" opened waking souls to the possibilities to rock music, proving that great music doesn't have to be superficial or meaningless to the philisophical listener. "Drive you Mild," bore a similar effect on those pacient enough to hear its masterpiece of irony. Though the album produced several singles- "Cup of Tea," "Villians," "Freshman," and "Photograph"- the best songs were the lesser known counterparts to the singles, slipping through the cracks due to incredulity. They still ring true, despite lack of attention and paled enthusiasm. They include more ironical takes on the superficiality of morals in "Reverend Girl;" or the human mind's supplication to defeat, but potential for tyranny in "Ominous Man." And the two songs "Cattle" and "Veneer" left fans spell-bound and hopeful. They would continue to look on awe-struck, stopping only to reflect on the tranquility and peace of mind that music can bring, when its power is not abused and its lyrics can provide an introspective view of an individual life. Collectively, this was one of the greatest musical moments that modern listeners would be priveledged to hear.


No bad cuts on this album!   December 7, 2000
Benjamin K. Potter (Memphis, TN)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

That's right. There are NO bad songs on VILLIANS, with the possible exception of "Freshman" because we've all heard it about 5,000 times on the radio. This is what alternative music is supposed to sound like - thick, intertwining guitars, hard and meaningful vocals, solid rythmn and bass section.

Seriously, if I tried to name my favorites, I would end up naming the entire album. I've owned it for 4 years now, and it always finds its way back into my CD player. Brian has got a great voice, great music/lyric writing ablility, and a great band backing him. My personal favorite is REVEREND GIRL, which dueling guitars wrap around beautiful lyrics: "We are for today/ we are for the moment/ we are a crusade/ but we are invalid/ one a.m. rummaging/ stain my hands on her antique/ two a.m."

See the Verve Pipe live if you get a chance, also. They never miss a beat, have great rapport with the crowd, and always close with scorching renditions of Beatles songs (i.e. Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds, Strawberry Fields Forever, etc.).


Amazing in every way   February 8, 2002
Jonah (St. Charles, Illinois United States)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

This is my second review of the CD Villains. After reading some of the other reviews of the CD, I felt I should add on to my last one. For those who gave this CD 2 stars or less, I guess it's not your kind of music. The Verve Pipe doesn't scream and swear at the top of their lungs while playing ear throbbing metal rock. These guys play amazing rock/alternative, with strong chorus', superb lyrics, and amazing vocals and instrumentals. They are probably the most telented band I know of. I rank them musically with Dave Mathews Band. This CD is terrific. It gets better with each listen. The more it plays in your head, the more impressed you get. I play this CD al the way through and never have to skip a track. It is amazing, you dont find too many CD's like this. Barely, Drive You Mild, Villains,Reverand Girl, Cup of Tea, Myself, The Freshman, Ominous Man, and Real all rank 5 stars for me, and the last 3 are still pretty darn good, entering a slower sound. To give this CD under 3 stars is an injustice, especially when the review ends with remarks such as, "These guys are really bad." These guys are amazing. They may not be you cup of tea, but no matter what angel you look at from, they are fantastic musicians and masters of their craft. Brian Vander Ark has one of the greatest voices ever, and the guitars and drums and bass are awesome. These guys are way more than 3 stars.


What a great album   May 18, 2005
Manson fan (USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I bought this cd back in the bands mainstream heyday with the Freshmen and really enjoyed the whole album (97 I think, and the freshmen is probably my least favorite song on here). It got a lot of play in my cd player at the time. Quite a few years have past, and I own like 600 cd's, so I haven't listened to this album in a while. A couple days ago I popped it back in my player and it sounds better than ever. And it still sounds fresh. I almost forgot how good this album is. This is one of those albums you can just put in, push play and let the whole thing go without having to skip over tracks. Highly recommended!


One of my favorite all-time albums.   January 13, 2006
S. Killpack
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

This album came out while I was in middle school, and I'm not sure I listened to much else back then. I originally purchased the album for "The Freshmen," but I think it's now the least-listened to song (thanks to the overplaying of it on the radio). My music collection has added several thousand songs since then, but I still find I listen to this album more than just about anything else. The transition they make from gentle gentle lyricism to surging melodies and back again has given me a true appreciation of versatility at a time when there's so much that sounds the same. The Verve Pipe has a truly original sound that just can't be duplicated.