Album Details

• Artist: Various Artists
• Album: Strait Up
• Label: Immortal (Epic)
• Year of Release: 2000
• ME Rating: Indie Classic
• Reviewed by: hstisgod on 2007-08-08

Media

The expectations of a release become something of a puzzle.  I'm not talking about the Guns N' Roses album over ten years old and yet ready to hit the shelves. I'm talking about an album minced with so many large names in the spirit of 90's numetal and drop d-tuning's best unknown voices, Lynn Strait.  It's an absolute tragedy this man's voice hasn't blessed us with his lungs all these years.  That's just the regret...

Truth is; this album regardless of how many names are here in the track listing;

all info and links from wikipedia.org

1. "Starlit Eyes", featuring Serj Tankian of System of a Down
2. "Take It Back", featuring Jonathan Davis of KoЯn & Nathan "Karma" Cox
3. "I Know Where You're At", featuring M.C.U.D. of (həd) p.e.
4. "Catch a Spirit", featuring Max Cavalera of Soulfly & Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down
5. "Until Next Time", featuring Jason Sears of R.K.L.
6. "Divided (An Argument for the Soul)", featuring Brandon Boyd of Incubus
7. "Ozzy Speaks", a spoken word track featuring Ozzy Osbourne
8. "Angel's Son", featuring Lajon Witherspoon, Clint Lowery & Morgan Rose of Sevendust
9. "Forever", featuring Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit
10. "Funeral Flights", featuring Dez Fafara of Coal Chamber
11. "Requiem", featuring Corey Taylor of Slipknot/Stone Sour
12. "Reaching Out", featuring Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray & Whitfield Crane of Ugly Kid Joe & Life of Agony
13. "Absent", featuring Snot and Aimee Echo of theSTART
14. "Sad Air", a spoken word track featuring Lynn Strait, with backing guitar by ex-Snot guitarist Sonny Mayo.
15. A hidden track that starts – 3:13 into the song. It is a mix of songs from Get Some mixed by DJ Lethal.

This album is NOT A SNOT ALBUM.  Truth is, this album is just as its titled, a tribute.  Some artists showed up and filled the void that Snot left when they removed themselves from making studio efforts after the untimely death of Strait.  Yeah, and the other side of this two year old record when it was finally released due to the fat cats at Epic, was artists like Jonathan Davis and Fred Durst.  Making songs that didn't encompass the Snot sound.  They came in recorded some lyrics, that were far overdeveloped, and brought the melodies of the remaining melodies of Snot down. Those two tracks seemed to stick out like a soar thumb from the record.

The inspirational track was "Angels Son"...LajonWitherspoon, close buddies with Strait wrote the song dedicated to Strait now fatherless son.  More like Sevendust unplugged, the track had spirit and a informal reaching up to the heavens.  So much so, the video became a scene of goosebumps.  Most of the contributors of the album, friends and family gather for a pacific ocean shore bonfire, while Strait circles around the humans having his touch with his loved ones, one last time.

 Brandon Boyd of Incubus though not nearly as grimey and metallic as Strait's voice contributed heartfelt lyrics, "Divided" (An Argument for The Soul). The lyrics made a nice fit, the melodies brought a soothing sound to what had already been a sick first five songs minus the Davis track.  M.C.U.D. of HED (Pe) had perhaps the best tribute in that first half of the disc.  It seemed the most in tune with memories of Strait when the lyrics were written. The outro bridge to this track is absolutely out of control and must be the fireworks of the album.  Of course Max Cavalera's song was strong, and signature, with an obvious attachment to Strait as well.

As for Lynn, and Snot themselves, they had a few moments towards the end of the disc.  The only track that had vocals laid down for what was expected to be Snot's upcoming album was "Absent", and it was signature Snot.  Quick pedal effects metal with just a lil distaste for the numetal wave that was flowing through.  F*ck the secret, the goosebumps really run with track fourteen "Sad Air", when Strait can be heard just letting his heart loose over a redubbed acoustic guitar melody of amazingly strong melody.

  They'll tell ya most of the music was written, and singers just stepped in to finish, but I'll tell ya three or four of these AT LEAST were written well after Strait's passing, its just too obvious.  Regardless...This album is the strongest compilation of one man's clear intent to be fair and peaceful to an entire world. So after two years, this album finally hit stores. After a bunch of beaurocratical crap created by a bunch of unknowing record execs who were obviously incapable of musicianship and musical passion, this album finally hit stores. Then was demonstratively ignored. Well ya missed out! Classic pick!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_Up

User Reviews and Comments

Review:

on 2007-08-22 SolitaryMan Said:

I've been looking for this release everywhere and can't find it! Brian, I really want to take up your recommendation but what the hell, this album is harder to find than Jimmy Hoffa. I think you (or someone) should direct me to a (free...haha) copy of this.
Not Rated