123c- let's not start name-calling here. I respect your opinion, and I'm not saying that it's wrong. Please consider though that music is art, and to have art thrown around the internet without the artist's permission is very, very wrong, imho... not to start a napster debate, I just think that name-calling is disrespectful.

That said, I think the new album is downright shameful. I've idolized Metallica for years and years. I thought Load/Reload were actually pretty good and most of the new stuff on Garage Inc. rocked. I actually feel, as a college student of 18 years, with no experience recording music whatsoever, that I could make a better album. Most of the song's have serious potential once you remove the punk drum beats (I think Lars ruined the album) and repeated lyrics. Bob Rock did such an amazing job producing the Black Album (just saw the hour long special on VH1 on the Black Album btw, every Metallica fan should watch it), I just don't understand how he could let this happen. I wonder how much of his influence caused this album to turn out the way it did.

Imo, there are three good tracks: St. Anger because of it's catchy, though poorly executed chorus; Some Kinda Monster, because of the chunky, driven riff in the beginning as well as the chorus; and Shoot Me Again, once again, because of the chorus. I think these songs, with modification, could equal some of their previous work.

I applaud Metallica for releasing another album that is what they want to release, not something to make money, or to please anyone else.