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Unsuccessfully Coping With Radio Edits - 77%
(This be a rewrite.)
Ah, the drab four, undoubtedly one of NYC’s finest exports. As this is a compilation, the bulk of which comprised of sterile radio edits, I’ll get right to it.
If you don’t mind having to weed through these edited tracks, then what’s left are three previously unreleased originals, a couple covers, and something pretty close to the full version of “Unsuccessfully Coping With the Natural Beauty of Infidelity.” I speak for all Type O fans when I say that amputating the beautiful 12-string passage of "Christian Woman" and trimming the 'Am I good enough?' ending of "Love You to Death" is absolutely FUCKED.
Among these previously unreleased tracks we find ourselves a heavy metal monolith in the form of “It’s Never Enough.” As Type O Negative matured, they developed a unique and formulaic approach to song writing. This is expertly demonstrated here beginning with a buzz-saw doom riff (this movement fittingly entitled “Hedgeclipper”) which flows quite liquidly into a glowing Sab-esque riff that will cut straight to the core of any metalhead. Now, this old school riffage leads us directly to the main refrain and point of the song, which I will proudly utter here: 'FUCK YOU GOD!' Oooh, it feels good! Let it be said that only a man of Peter Steele’s stature would have the balls to record this. I’m sure that this is the very reason that the song didn’t appear on the album for which it was intended, the bleak and hopeless World Coming Down.
The centerpiece and sixth (of course) track on this album is why I was compelled to purchase. Type O Negative offer what may be the finest tribute ever rendered by mortal men. “Black Sabbath (From the Satanic Perspective)” is to these ears the end-all in homage to Black Sabbath; no other band could have executed this with such class and mastery. Type O follow the golden rule of covers here taking the original concept and expounding upon it, nearly making it their own. Pete Steele’s reworking of the lyrics are a work of the darkest of poetry, making complete the feeling of doom and despair conveyed when Mr. Iommi first strummed the infamous tri-tone. We're not begging for anything from ol' Bog, Ozz-man, oh no, we're here for the gang-bang!
The other two originals, “12 Black Rainbows” and “Stay Out of My Dreams” are two solid slabs which were left off of World Coming Down. What can I say? If you already like Type O you will like this. For those who don’t get it, don’t get it. On that note, and for the initiated, these butchered radio-edited tracks are unlistenable, and honestly, quite offensive to the ears of fans of this band. I mean, when you're expecting a whole 'nother round of 'Am I good enoughs' and you're rudely ejected into the next track, well, it's like the fuckin blue balls blues dude.
For shits and grins you also get a humorous offering by way of “Hey Pete,” complete with alternate lyrics. All in all, and if you can deal with the edited tracks, this is worth it for the aforementioned songs alone. The artwork, included lyrics, and special packaging are pretty cool too.
