H.I.M. - Uneasy Listening Vol. 1

The interesting thing about the band H.I.M. (or His Infernal Majesty) is that they really don't follow any particular formula in rock today. Forming in Finland in 1995, they do take snippets from such Goth Gods as Sister of Mercy. But that is where the comparisons stop. Songwriter and vocalist Ville Hermanni Valo has a consistenly interesting voice. Along with the rest of the band bassist Mige Amour, drummer Mikka Karppinen, guitarist Lily Lazer, and keyoboardist Zoltan Pluto they have enjoyed quite the cult following. Their official domestic release "Dark Light," on Universal really brought them to the forefront of American audiences across the board. Their earlier cd's have also been reissued on Universal.

For their latest release, "Uneasy Listening Vol. 1," they've included versions of songs you may have not heard before. Mixed, unplugged live and acoustic versions are the flavor of the day for this disc. Many of the songs are stripped completely down, which showcases the bands' unique chemistry and artistry. If you're a fan of H.I.M. you're definitely going to want this disc in your collection. Sometimes morose but always interesting, I really liked the acoustic versions of "The Funeral of Hearts," and "Please Don't Go." You may find yourself discovering all 15 tracks all over again as if you've heard them for the first time. I'm not a huge fan of mixes of the original tunes but H.I.M. pulled them off rather successfully. My hat's off to "Uneasy Listening Vol. 1." All in all, it's any but uneasy.