Cheap Population 1 (Music) (Population One) Price

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Customer Reviews of Population 1

great again, but...
I guess there's just too much good music being released nowadays. How else to explain that a Nuno Bettencourt release goes by so unnoticed?? Even as a huge fan I was surprised to find that he's got a new album out... Luckily, there was an obscure shop where I could pick up this album (for a whopping 40 euro's).
Anyhow, it's worth the price! It may not be as refreshing as (most of) Nuno's previous albums, but then again, how many times can you expect him to reinvent his music. Population 1 sticks to his post-Extreme sound, and in the absence of riff-based heavy stuff leans a bit towards Schizophonic. Most songs have a slow feel, sometimes upbeat (Spaceman, High, and Qpd (check out the twist in the lyrics at the end!)), sometimes sad, reflective or frustrated (Flow, If Only, Iron Jaw, Ordinary Day, and Dedication Breakup). This makes the 4 songs that don't fit this mould stand out on the record. 'Rescue' in my opinion is a bit of a filler, although the Spanish guitar part is fun. 'Unhappy Birthday' and 'Sick punk' on the other hand spice up the album with some energetic funkiness. And then there's 'Stiff', currently my favorite track on the album. It layers a huge-sounding church organ over what's almost a techno background, has Nuno singing at his most intense, and tops it all off with some wildly rhythmic guitar playing.
Notwithstanding his four brilliant 'solo' albums, I'm silently hoping for someone else to take over the vocal duties. Not that Nuno's inapt, he's actually got a pretty good voice. But a musical sparring partner could once again take his music in a new direction. To me, it's a bit like with the two latest Chili Pepper albums: it's really good music, but not very far from maintaining a winning formula. Normally, I wouldn't even consider this an issue, but Nuno is so extremely talented, that I for one would like to see him break some really new ground again...

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Stunningly, well captured songwriters album!
Nuno Bettencourt, exGuitar player of his first band Extreme, of his second band Mourning Widows, and finally his two solo projects, this and Schizophonic. All of his catalogue titles have been filled with solid material, no filler. This is no exception, from start to finish Nuno treats the listener with a mature, and dark songwriters record. The trademark Nuno Guitarwork wizardry is of course still evident here, but the songs rely more on his lead vocals than anything else. Nuno improves album by album with his lead vocals. It sounds splendid on Population 1, probably some of his best work as a solo songwriter. Now the songs of course, eventhough they all hold their own here, I'd have to say the highlights here are, High, Spaceman, Flow (a very personal song about Nuno's mother), If Only, Stiff, QPD, and Dedication Breakup. Sick Punk, which is a cool song, I think was a Mourning Widows track and ends the record on a high note. This is just something that you have to hear to believe, it is a totally solid album. I think this is one of last years best albums. One question before I wrap up my review, Nuno, why can't you do this on the side and make music with Extreme or Mourning Widows? Your at your best when you make music with a band, with this being the exception. Give Extreme a go again Nuno, or is it the other three that won't?

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I LOVE THIS MAN!
Nuno's done it again. I have been a loyal Nuno fan since 1990 when my brother turned me onto Extreme (and I am eternally grateful to him for it) in large part because they, unlike many bands of their era, were not formulaic. I often equate buying a new Extreme cd with opening a Christmas present. You never knew what you were gonna get...and I loved that about them. And, I'm so pleased that Nuno has continued that trend in his post-Extreme projects. I have always considered him not only an amazing guitarist - one of the best EVER - but an exceptional musician as well. He writes honest, hard hitting songs that not only make you rock, but make you think as well. Most people have said that this cd had to grow on them. I loved it from the first time I popped it into the player. The songs are solid, some of them hitting you right between the eyes and others hitting you right in the heart. His vocals are honest and emotional and his guitar, though not always at the forefront of his songs, is clearly there and as amazing as ever. I am hard pressed to find a "favorite" track, but the ones I would highlight are "Flow", "Rescue", "High", "Ordinary Day" and the song I know he wrote just for me, "Unhappy b-day". I would highly recommend this cd to any Nuno fan...or any fan of excellent music. It's one of the best cds I've ever heard and I'm proud to have it as part of my ever growing cd collection. Thank you, Nuno, for never ever disappointing me. It means more to me than you'll ever know. And while I'd love to see an Extreme reunion, I'm behind you forever, no matter what you choose to do. You are the man.