Track Listing

1. Find A Way
2. Distant Signs
3. Broken Again
4. Before The Fall
5. Amends
6. Interlude
7. Left Behind
8. Blind
9. The Beast Within
10. The Thin Line
11. Black Coffee Blues
12. Fade Away

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59652 in Music
• Released on: 2007-10-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
The band name couldn't be more perfect. Another Animal features three members of Godsmack - guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill and drummer Shannon Larkin. Joining them are original Godsmack guitarist Lee Richards (ex-Dropbox) and ex-Ugly Kid Joe singer Whitfield Crane. Yet the music they've created for their self-titled debut is a different beast altogether.

Customer Reviews

God Smack Joe
If the band's name -- Another Animal -- and the pyschedelic imagery gracing the album's cover weren't any indication, let it be known that this Godsmack-side-project is of a totally different nature and style than that of it's more iconic predecessor. Now, whether or not Another Animal succeed at distancing themselves is a different story, the fact remains that this will be an interesting listen for anyone who has grown accustomed to the Godsmack sound.

Pulled from shelved material from the "IV" recording sessions, Godsmack members Tony Rombola, Robbie Merrill and Shannon Larkin teamed up with Lee Richards (ex-Dropbox) and former Ugly Kid Joe/Medication frontman Whitfield Crane to record their self-titled debut over a year ago. Described by the band themselves as music that didn't fit into the Godsmack canon, it's fitting that they chose such a unique voice as Crane's to front the band. Surely, his signature style is of a much different nature than Sully Erna's, and at times where the band churns out some "Awake"-era 'Smack, he manages to spin the music around in a different direction. It's a voice that takes some getting used to, but after 2 or 3 full listens, you couldn't imagine anyone else singing these songs. "Broken Again" and "The Beast Within" are the kind of songs that sound tailor-made for modern-rock radio success, but elsewhere the band takes some unexpected turns. "Black Coffee Blues" comes in as the biggest shocker, a solid blues based track that is likely to win over any listener. Elsewhere, the punkish "Distant Signs" is more fitting with Larkin & Crane's musical past, while "Left Behind" and "Fade Away" are the obligatory but still solid ballads.

To be fair, this isn't a perfect album. The biggest problem is the mixing, as done by Dave Fortman (Evanescence, Mudvayne). Quite honestly, it makes the band sound generic, with Larkin's drum-parts toned down and the dual guitars hardly distinguishable from one another. Truly a case of an otherwise solid album being ruined by too much studio trickery. Also, it gets a bit repetitive from time to time, but what else would you expect from the men who brought you Godsmack? Fans of that band should definitely give this a fair listen though, because there are a few gems to be found. Heck, if you just enjoy turning on the radio and digging some guilt-free, easy to digest hard rock, Another Animal will fully satisfy.

Very Impressed
I was always an Ugly Kid Joe fan way before Godsmack came along, so when my friend told me about this collaboration I had to buy it.

To me, it rocks on most songs. There is one token song, that is still growing on me. I don't want to name it, but I think many of you will agree it seems (at first) to not belong on the CD.

I am just baffled how anyone might not wanna roll down the highway rocking out to this album.

I say buy and you will love it.

Very Good!
This is one of the top releases of 2007, I like it better then the last couple of Godsmack CD's. It's been said that some of these songs were leftover Godsmack songs that didn't quite measure up to their standards, but they are just a little different and work well here. Since Godsmack started out as an Alice in Chains tribute band it's no surprise that some of these songs sound like AIC. The one song that doesn't belong here is the Blues jam they try.