HW: random Area S4 thoughts

[C.E. Anderson]

        Got my Area S4 today (thanks Jill!--cheque to be mailed out to you).

        I thought it was pretty cool.  "Alien (I Am)" was pretty good, though
I thought the mix was a little busy and the performance I felt was a bit
lacking in energy--however, I think my opinion improved on repeated
listenings.  This was certainly very cool live, hopefully will make a
live album sometime.
        I know some people weren't thrilled with "Death Trap" but I
thought is was quite good.  Yeah, it's a retread.  Yeah, Ron Tree is
sounding _a lot_ like Calvert, IMHO.  But I thought there was great
Energy to the track, and definately enjoyed the wild Brock wah-guitar
leads--not enough of those on recent HW material!
        Wastelands: well, it's a retread linking instrumental--as such
it was fine, but hardly changed my life.  I liked "Am I Losing My Mind
Control" (or whatever), though I think this benefits considerably live
from Ron's wacky stage antics.  However, it was pretty good, lack of
credit for House not withstanding.

        No "Sputnik Stan" on the CD EP version? :( Well, I hope
Doug Smith is going to let them release that album!

        Overall, I liked everything I heard on Area S4 better than anything
I heard on _IITBOTFTBD_.  Perhaps, not as cool as some of the cool rock
tracks from _ET_, but we'll see how the album turns out ...

Cheers,
Carl