hey some short cd reviews
She Wants revenge (st)
Flawless/Geffen
I was pretty excited when I discovered she wants revenge. I had heard them on internet radio and immediately fell in love. The band sounds like new Buck 65 but more easily accessible. Mostly for the sound of the singer's voice becaus instead of going beatnik slam like our friend Buck, She Wants Revenge went somewhere resembling the sad tone of Joy Division. The music in the background sounds like what I can only relate to as Fischer Spooner with guitars.
The only down side of She Wants Revenge is just like its influences (Depeche Mode, Bauhaus and Joy Division) it has a darker side that I can't decide if I want to admit I like. On one hand the haunting vocals and deeper sound make me want to wear black pinstripes suits and have lots of crimson red accessories. Then I paid attention to the lyrics and instead I wanted to do some hot S&M sex. Track five, monologue states: "If your afraid to try just give me the safe word and take your hand and smack me in the mouth."
Well maybe I can shake off one song but then when I watch the video for Tear You Apart on Much Music I can't deny that I want to whisper in my favourite girl's ear "I want to fucking tear you apart." You know like love her lots and lots.
Yay creepy sex.
The Robocop Kraus/ They Think They Want To Be Robocop Kraus
Epitaph
So Epitaph finally gave in and signed a dance rock band. You can't blame a business for wanting to stay current. The Robocop Kraus was the perfect choice because unlike the Futureheads these guys only sound a bit like The Gang of Four instead of a lot.
This band instead seemed to look to Devo for some weird riffage. They have definitely been able to reproduce that sound that makes you laugh and say to your self. "This is some weird shit… No wait don't turn it off just yet I am oddly drawn to it."
For some reason I find this disc infectious and when it is started I can't bring myself to turn it off. I feel that if I did I would be committing some minor character crime. Pretending to not enjoy this CD is like lying to yourself. Although you don't need to tell others you found this weird new band you might find yourself listening to it when no one is home. It is like a scene from an early 90's movie where they have that god awful music montage that makes you think "boy I really could do some math problems to these guys."
Orange Orange / (st)
No Label
Hey these guys are from New Westminster. It has their phone number on the CD. I might just get up and call them right now. I think the conversation would go a little like this. By the way this didn't actually happen it is all hypothetical.
Dale "Hey Orange Orange I am really glad that throw back rock has finally graduated past the ironic depressed pop of the 80's. I mean the Cure was great and all but I really don't think I want to kiss dudes anytime soon."
Orange Orange "Oh yeah we thought that maybe a mix of Fugazi with some thick clean bass would be good for everyone."
Dale "But guys I can't dance to this. I can't really show my moves off to the ladies and impress my friends."
Orange Orange "But Dale there is still enough melody in there that you can listen to this disk late at night. We thought we would mix the perfect amount of noise and harshness with the harmony choruses and long instrumental breaks so that you could get a taste of something refreshing but not so out there that you would have to feel like a social outcast to appreciate."
Dale "Well gee Orange Orange that's really nice and considerate of you and hey this is not pretentious at all are you sure you're a Vancouver band."
Orange Orange "Oh no we live in New Westminster."
Dale "Right haha. Hey why is there only 4 songs on here I could listen to you guys for days and days this is so beautiful."
Orange Orange "Why thank you Dale you are quite attractive."
Dale "Oh Orange Orange I already told you I don't kiss dudes."
Intelligence / Icky Baby
In The Red Redords
This CD single handily got me over my hatred for Lo-Fi music. Before I just thought it was middle class kids trying to appear to be poor. You know that whole chic thing were your parents actually gave you lots of shit but you act moody and wear thrift store clothes so you can pretend to be a skid. Fuck you dad. Actually I guess all you kids in Vancouver have no idea what I am talking about at all. Yeah I am lying hey all you assholes leave the thrift stores for us poor people.
Icky Baby made me realize that Lo-Fi can be an artistic choice to add some sort of contrived grit and desperation to music. I just realized how all those people felt when distorted guitars were first used and condoned the act as sacrilege. Then five years later realized how stupid they were to reject change and evolution in music.
This CD passed the angry-roomate-in-the-middle-of-the-night-walking-into-the-living-room-naked-and-asking- "What the fuck are you listening to that is crazy loud." Ha Ha I saw your junk.
Danko Jones / Sleep is the enemy
Aquarius
I saw Danko Jones play live and he moved his head so fast it was a blur. I'm not just fucking with you it was an actual blur. It's that kind of energy that has kept me a huge Danko fan through is first five releases. (that spoken word shit doesn't count)
The new album is not as hard and fast as We Sweat Blood. Instead it seems that he has returned to grab some of the soul sound off of Born A Lion to give us some decent mid paced tunes. I would even venture so far as to say that this is Danko's Most intelligent album yet. Don't get me wrong it still makes you want to drink cheap beer and rock out with your shirt off inevitably spilling beer all over yourself. Then when some wiener busts up your party and says "Hey isn't Danko Jones opening up for Nickel Back on their tour right now."
To which you reply "Are you listening to this shit. You love Danko! YOU LOVE DANKO! Besides those fans of Nickel Back they don't really like music they just listen to shit that's in front of them. When they see Danko's Head move so fast it's a fucking blur they'll shit there mind and realize what good tunes are. Danko is doing them a service. You can't bring the kids to the mountain then bring the fucking Danko to the kids." As you saying this your probably frothing at the mouth and covered in beer and the wiener just thinks your insane. You don't care though your listening to cock rock covered in beer, and that my friend is a treasure all its own.
Hell is for heroes / Transmit Disrupt
Burning Heart Records
Burning Heart Records is Epitaph's Swedish branch so it is no surprise that the singer from Hell is For Heroes sounds like that dude from international noise conspiracy. Don't worry though these guys are not as envelope pushing as that band. Nope these guys ride the regular train pretty closely. So you shant worry yourself with not getting the music. Well there is that tiny bit of synthesizer in there but that is ok other than that it sounds like straight ahead American music. That stuff that all sounds the same but we keep fighting over what genre it is. We know there is some emo in there and some rock but naming this shit is getting ridiculous. So instead it sounds like a mix of all those bands out there you won't remember next year. I mean it's good and I enjoy listening to it but come-on there's nothing dynamic in there.