I’ll start this thread up for anyone who feels like commenting on the new Rantology release.
Seems like the album HAS leaked and a few board members have already had the lowdown.
Maybe a couple of them could give us a track by track walk through it.
[laugh]
Why not.
No W Redux
We already heard 3 different versions of this song and this one is basically an attempt to keep as much of Carmina Burana in as possible without getting into legal trouble. I think this track is kinda pointless…
Great Satan
The only new track and its not that bad. I like the raw Black Metal influence. Its one of the most metal tracks Ministry has ever done.
Wrong (Update Mix)
I cant really hear any difference between this track and the original version. Perhaps the lyrics have been changed since I didnt really have the time to listen to them closely yet.
N.W.O. (Update Mix)
NWO with new Bush samples. Quite forgettable although it seems that it has been remastered and it benefits from the new, clearer sound.
Stigmata (Update Mix)
The original Stigmata remastered in such a way that it sounds closer to the version of Stigmata they do live these days. I suppose its nice to hear this version with a clear sound.
Waiting
This is the exact same version as on HOTM.
Warp City (alt mix)
I cant hear any major differences, except for some guitars in the beginning.
JBMHR (update mix)
New intro and the rest of the song is exactly the same as the version on Psalm.
Bad Blood (alternate mix)
This is probably the only alternative mix that makes sense to me on the entire compilation. This mix makes Bad Blood sound like a revamped You Know What You Are.
Animosity
Exact same version as on Animositisomina
Unsung (alternate mix)
The bagpipes make it sound like Korn.
Bloodlines
No comment.
Psalm 69 (live)
Thieves (live)
The Fall (live)
These 3 come directly from Sphinctour
Overall, I think this is far from being an album that Ministry fans need to have in their collections. The Great Satan is an ok track and Bad Blood is surprisingly good but is that enough to buy an entire album?
I cant believe the live tracks are the ones from sphinctour. I was hoping they might be different live versions but… it kind of gives a bad impression to the collection I think.
The nwo update mix from the snippet sounded good. The minute I heard there would be bagpipes on the Unsung track i thought of Korn [laugh]. The jbmhr remix with the different intro I believe I may already have from the radio and if it is the same one its better than the psalm 69 release.
By the sounds of Jupitreas’ review the album is how I presumed it would be. My hands may stay in my pockets for this one.
IMHO this the best one of all the 3 versions.
great intro.
quite a cool new song! far better than I thought about the snippet.
nothing special to need to be noticed.
an updated version of the extended dance mix.
new samples, new sound breaks. not bad all.
some new sound bits added to the background.
and its sound is COOL. I really like this one.
new guitars added to the track intro.
new intro.
one of the best on this compilation.
a must hear! I like it better than the original one.
the bagpipes kicks ass. this version kills.
good energy as expected, makes sense to start off the complition with this one
I don’t like this one…it sounds too…hmm, I don’t know. I was thinking boring, or generic. I’ll have to give it some more listens.
is it me or do the drums sound mixed more in the background? it’s good to hear this song with a few new things here and there, but it’s already been played to death (and on greatest fits already)
one of the two tracks i was REALLY looking forward to on this disc…and I think Al sounds horrible on vocals. I’m not sure why he couldn’t keep the original. A few new sounds here and there don’t add much to it, but it’s still good. I just prefer the original (or 12" version)
very boring new intro…and again, maybe i haven’t heard the original in quite some time, but what’s up with the drums? i’m probably wrong though…
definitly the best song on the album, IMO. the synth at the beginning is nearly identical to You Know What You Are but is kinda lost by the middle of the song…still it’s always been a favorite track of mine from a very underated album. I like it.
WHY WASN’T STOLEN ON THIS [:P]
so…what? i always thought this track sounds too forced, and perhaps it was.
obviously, this review is a bit biased as i’m one of those huge 84-88 era Ministry fans. it’s a good release for those who’ve never heard ministry before.
my one is also biased
01 - no w redux - it sucks, intro’s too long and sounds really cheesy.
02 - the great satan - it sucks and it’s too noisy, but maybe it will grow on me. al’s really barking on this one (and i thought his barking on no w was bad enough).
03 - wrong update - different bush saying, blah.
04 - nwo update - remix that has some parts from original and “album edit” versions with some slight variations. don’t see any new sound quality benefits, the original was crisper but had a little bit less on the low end on bass drums.
05 - stigmata update - this is the track that rules every other one out, it’s actually a remix of a remix (since the base for this update is stigmata 12" remix), with different vocals! new vox are probably recycled from other takes or something, with lots of echo and different screams. only thing i loathe about this one is the cymbal crashes. they almost ruin it all. it has cool drum breaks piece in the middle.
06 - waiting, same as houses.
07 - warp city - added guitars at the intro (probably some other places too) and i don’t think there’s anything new besides that.
08 - jbmhr - it’s based on the redline/whiteline remix, starts with drum loop and gibby talking in the background. other than that it’s the same (with “there’s no use trying to talk” samples and car engine sounds).
09 - bad blood alt mix - overall, the same thing with different intro (just looped main drum/guitar riff) and throughout the song some distant synth shit was added i think.
10 - animosity - same old same old, but appears to have more bass.
11 - unsung - new bagpipe intro, that’s it. oh wait, is has bagpipes in the verses too. sound kinda cool!
12 - bloodlines - that one, you know, so what self-ripoff. 
13-15 - sphinctour tracks. i wish they didn’t include these ones… instead they should put we believe 2003 live version at least, that one would PWN these sphinctour ones.
overall i think it’s 2.3 out of 5. seriously i’m not a fan of post-filthpig stuff, but i like some stuff on houses and ani, but this one has too much redundant stuff. if it’s recycling and rehashing the songs, why not take some original choices, and some more songs NOT from the last two albums. and that stigmata rererereremix makes me want proper LORAH remaster/rerelease even more. god damn.
EDIT: oh yeah, just to say - rantology was just pretty much exactly as i expected it to be.
I’m not going to do a track by track. But you know, I dig this. For myself, I took Rantology in more as a mix-tape. The mixes of the songs paint a very common and specific feeling. Everything feels really warm and a bit of a fuzz to it. I feel its a toss back to the way songs were performed on ICYDFLSU tour. There is clearly a sense of purpose to the songs compiled, what it is, kind of escapes me without context but the songs do make sense together (exluding anything after unsung). As a mixtape, I think the album succeeds and there are some very enjoyable moments such as Bad Blood, Great Satan and Unsung. I’m really excited for Rio, I hope it has the same production he shows on Bad Blood or Stigmata from this CD. Another thing, for kids who never really heard these songs before, besides probably Bad Blood from The Matrix and JBMHR, I think this would be a good introduction. Covers their most impetus songs that get you in one shot. Thumbs up.
No W Redux
The intro is interesting, and I do like the guitar solo at the end (from the Rock Against Bush version), but I think I prefer the original album version.
The Great Satan
Hmm, something about hearing this song in it’s entirety that makes it a little more appealing. Al’s certainly not splitting the atom here, but it is the kind of song I’d like to throw on at a party after several beers (nothing like a pit in the living room). It’s three minutes of mindless fun.
Wrong (Update Mix)
New Bush samples, but that doesn’t help the song much, and I’m really tired of hearing Bush’s voice.
N.W.O. (Update Mix)
The drums sound clearer in the mix, but aside from new Bush samples, it’s pretty much a mix-up of the 12" version.
Stigmata (Update Mix)
Reminiscent of how it sounds live, and I like the intro, but Al’s vocals - EGAD! I’ll stick w/the original 12" version.
Waiting
This is where I should praising Al for putting “We Believe '03” on the CD, but I’ll just get over it. I like this song, and I like Houses, nothing more to say here.
Warp City (Alternate Mix)
Some new sounds in the beginning (guitars), otherwise it’s the same. My least-favorite from Houses.
Jesus Built My Hotrod (Update Mix)
The Redline-Whiteline Version is so perfect that any other mix just doesn’t stack up. The new intro here is not only forgettable, but hard to make out at times.
Bad Blood (Alternate Mix)
I always thought this song was a distant cousin to You Know What You Are, and the new intro certainly makes a good argument for it. Good version, nothing drastically different. One of the better songs from DSOTS.
Animosity
Sounds the same as the album version, but I think I’m hearing some extra crash cymbals throughout (?). If so, that’s the only difference, oh and when Al yells “Animosity”, it seems to hit me right in the face! Maybe some levels were changed.
Unsung (Alternate Mix)
I’m waiting for Peter Gabriel to start singing “Come Talk To Me” at the beginning! Actually, this is probably the best, most-interesting mix on the CD. The bagpipes add a layer of intensity to the music.
Bloodlines
I dig this song. Yeah, it’s So What 2, but that’s part of the appeal for me. Al’s vocals sound good, the guitars are cool, and I like the dub effects.
Psalm 69 (Live)
Thieves (Live)
The Fall (Live)
Oh goodie, now I have two copies of these songs! I listened to them again, and realized that I just didn’t like the Sphinctour that much. The band sounded better live before and after this tour. The Fall is probably the best of these three live tracks.
1002
ok, since it seems to be the in thing to do…
No W Redux - Good way to start off the album, but other than the choral opening nothing new or interesting. Don’t get me wrong, its not bad or anything but its a little bit like trading your car in for the exact same car but in a different color.
Great Satan - Like it, but it kinda loses steam after about a minute and a half. I’m always partial to the “rockers” but Ministry have definitely done better.
Wrong (update mix) - Pretty much the same as HOTM, good song, but I don’t think it deserves a place on a best of.
N.W.O. - Ok, no more. I’ve heard this song fifty billion times and I didnt even like it that much in the first place. New Bush samples just don’t do it for me. Can we please put this puppy to bed?
Stigmata (update mix) - Not bad, but then again Stigmata’s a hard song to really fuck up. The new additions are interesting. Not a revelation, but a cool take.
Waiting - I always liked this song and well, I guess I still like it.
Warp City (alt mix) - Once again, a good song from Houses (my fav actually) that hasn’t been tampered with too much. Intro doesn’t add much to it, but doesnt subtract.
Jesus built my Hotrod (Update mix) - No more. Just like NWO I don’t want to hear this song anymore. I used to love it, but now I just find it kind of irriatating. Not AS irritating as NWO, but its gettin’ there.
Bad Blood (Alt mix) - I always loved “You Know What You Are” and anything that makes another song sound more like it is OK in my book. One of the most drastic (which isnt saying alot for this collection) mixes. But also one of the most successful.
Animosity - Good song, no complaints.
Unsung (alt mix) - The bagpipes do add something, but it feels too tacked on. Maybe i’m just used to the old mix.
Bloodlines - Pretty good for a commisioned track, and an enjoyable listen. It goes on a bit too long, but maintains a good pace throughout, which is easier said than done.
Overall, actually hearing this doesnt change my initial opinion of it. I still find it slapdash and unnessary. Maybe Al is making a collection that he thinks will appeal to the “kids” and not the jaded old music farts who seem to clog too much space on this planet. Well, I’m in between the two camps. And I sort of think alot of Ministry’s fans are. I know I got into ministry around Filth Pig time, and I’m 23 now. I’m not old school or new school, so i’m splitting the differece.
Grade: C
Ok, I haven’t heard this yet (although judging from the sound of things, one could argue that I already have) but I’d like to comment on what I am / am not looking forward to.
No W redux - Don’t like the song to begin with. Al would have to do one almighty tweak on this one to capture my interest. And it doesn’t sound like he has.
Great Satan - Don’t hold much hope for this one. Although the pipsqueaks over at Pissarmy seem to think it’s pretty “rad”. But does the world really need another anti-Bush rant?
Wrong (update mix) - A boring song for the most part. A few extra samples ain’t gonna win me over either.
N.W.O. (update mix) - Enough already. Y’know, by the time they got around to making Alien 4, the series had begun to suck. Ditto this tune.
Waiting - The worst song on Houses. By a mile.
Jesus built my Hotrod (Update mix) - Not looking good so far is it?
Bad Blood (Alt mix) - After reading some of the above comments, I am now looking forward to this one.
Animosity - So so track off a so so album.
Unsung (alt mix) - Bagpipes you say? Hmmm.
Bloodlines - Should I be getting excited about this?
Is this album even a celebration of Ministry’s 25 year output?? Sounds more like a chance for Al to vent his political spleen?
Regarding this release I am dubious at best.
If you’re not sure what songs to download, or if you only want to download a few…
#1 - bad blood update
#2 - great satan
#3 - unsung update
#4 - bloodlines (if you don’t already have it)
at least those are the ones that caught my attention the first listen through…
-al
hi everyone! i’m new here. just got back from three years in africa only to find out a lot of shit’s been going on! if i’m correct, Ministry’s come out with HOTM, a collection scheduled for Sept, with a new RevCo and new Ministry early next year, followed by a tour…geezus!
could anyone please post me links to paul barker’s new record since he left Ministry 2 years ago…as well, could I also get the link to Chris Connelly’s compilation or anything new from him? is Bill Rieflin still working with REM? what’s he up to?
i can see Al’s been working hard since he got clean…there was a tour in 2003 and 2004?
i’m sure paul, chris and bill must have accomplished a shitload of work as well, can’t wait to hear about it. or maybe they’ve decided to “keep their integrity” and not do shit.
awesome!
hmf
Just heard the Stigmata update mix snippet and by the sounds of it… well lets just say Ive got nothing positive to say about it. I mean really is that the best they can do for fuck sake.
ah yes mick!
there you are. i see you are very fond of Mr. Barker. could you please post the link to his latest releases…and chris connelly’s work as well.
i’m curious to see what they’ve been up to.
thank you in advance.
hmf
Appearently Paul’s been woorking on an album, which would make those of us who are big fands of his quite happy. Unfortunately, it’s got no estimated time of completion and no real hard info. There was also talk of releasing the infamous, unreleased Lead Into Gold - Low And Slow EP, but nothing seems to have happened there either. Paul, where are you?
Chris has been busy with releases. 3 years puts you pretty behind. He’s come out with at least one solo release, the Everyon’d disc and another Damage Manual cd. Check out his site - www.chrisconnelly.com - for more info.
Bill Rieflin’s still with REM. He played with them at Live 8. That’s about it.
you are a good man, sir.
thank you for the connelly link. i will check this out forthwith.
so mr. barker’s put nothing out in two years but al is an asshole for releasing work and you are all awaiting an unreleased Lead Into Gold from 1980 ish or was it from the 90s? but rantology sucks b/c al remixed several tracks and added a new track as well.
i see. tres elite! nes pas?
hmf
i wish i could get rid of my lead into gold cd. i think i’ve listened to it once, about 6 years ago. It’s been sitting on my cd shelf ever since.
-al
so mr. barker’s put nothing out in two years but al is an asshole for releasing work and you are all awaiting an unreleased Lead Into Gold from 1980 ish or was it from the 90s?
Actually Paul Barker did release a CD called ‘Halloween Party’ under the name Pink Anvil with Max Brody in 2003. They used an “FM radio, patch bay and delay pedals” to create a monstrous record that is basically a continuous jam of horror-movie noises and industrial experimentation. The album is very bizarre and almost lulls you into a trance. It’s a masterpiece of true industrial music and definitely beats HOTM’s oh-so-nineties heavy metal approach.
ah yes mick!
there you are. i see you are very fond of Mr. Barker. could you please post the link to his latest releases…and chris connelly’s work as well.
i’m curious to see what they’ve been up to.
thank you in advance.
hmf
Apologies hmf on not replying earlier, you must not have replied to my message but someone elses.
Other people have filled you in on what you asked for so I wont repeat their words. All I will say is check out Pink Anvil’s ‘Halloween Party’ I recommend it if youre looking for some creepy fucking music. There is very little info out there on Barker at the moment aswell.
http://releasemagazine.net/Onrecord/orministryr.htm
Ouch…that burns.The reviewer is’nt Bias either b/c he gave very generous reviews for animosisitomina and Houses.