III Sides To Every Story Atlanta GA

III Sides To Every Story

Extreme

A & M Records, 1992

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 01/18/1997

Some time ago, I wrote a column on HitsWorld asking readers tosend in their suggestions for albums people have never heard offrom groups we have.

One reader has taken up the challenge and made a suggestion Inever would have considered. Jeff Murray from Canada writes:

I think one of the most forgotten albums of the 90'swas "III Sides To Every Story" by Extreme. Most people associateExtreme as a sappy "hair band" like Poison or Warrant due to theirsmash hit of "More Than Words" from the "Pornograffiti" album. Butthis is not true. Extreme are a band that has no real boundries."III Sides To Every Story" is an absolute gem. The first section isfunk-rock with Nuno Bettencourts' guitar mastery highlighted.Section 2 is radio friendly popish songs that are fabulous, butnever made it to radio because they were slightly different (toomuch rock, or not enough rock). Then there is side three. Wow. Itsan eighty piece orchestra (recorded at Abbey Road) intertwining 3songs totaling about 20 minutes. Its a stunning work of art and Idon't think its been discovered yet. But with Gary Cherone joiningVan Halen, and Nuno's amazing solo effort, maybe fans will check itout.

I'm not sure if you could really qualify Extreme as a hair band;their studio work was far more advanced than glam bands everdreamed about accomplishing. If anything, I would argue thatExtreme could have been seen as "light pop" due to the successes of"More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted," a song I am particularly fondof.