Reviewed by Ben Lowes-Smith
By all rights, I should hate this. It’s a horrendous name for a band, and in the press release they look like zeitgeist-humping fashonistas. However, they did send the station a rather endearing and charming hand written letter, which won me over a bit, and the demo itself isn’t all that bad.
The problem lies with the fact the band don’t have an awful lot of personality. Opener ‘Lone Star State Love Affair’ wouldn’t have sounded out of place on the last Killers record (I presume, I haven’t heard it) and the singer’s voice wears its influences on its sleeve; Brandon Flowers, Liam Gallagher, and (most lamentably) Caleb Followill (who seems to have deemed it acceptable for an entire generation of singers to sound like constipated bison).
The song writing isn’t bad, commendable in fact. There’s some fairly interesting interplay between the complex and catchy synth lines (which, if i’m honest, made most of the songs for me) and the more discordant guitars.
It’s not bad, but it’s not spectacular, or even that noteworthy. The LP need to be comfortable in their own skin before they’ll really make my ears prick up.
Showing posts with label Ben Lowes-Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ben Lowes-Smith. Show all posts
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
The Fast and The Furious Soundtrack Sampler
Reviewed by Ben Lowes-Smith
I feel out of my depth with this one. I haven’t seen any of the films in this franchise (nor do I have any intention to). I don’t know how well they’ll work in the context of the film, which I suppose is their primary purpose. The press release promises ‘head thumping bangers’, and listening to the CD, these songs wouldn’t seem out of place juxtaposed with a car chase or an explosion, or sound tracking a serious-faced Vin Diesel rubbing himself against a pliant stranger in a dimly lit night club. I’d expect they’d do the job.
Worst of the bunch is Busta Rhymes’ ‘G-Stro’. He’s on autopilot here, the lyrics are pretty banal and he keeps advocating a young lady (presumably) to ‘show me your G-stro’. (What is this? Is it a car part? An item of clothing? Something rude?)
Best of the bunch are ‘Bang’ by Rye Rye ft. M.I.A, which has some fairly erratic beats, and is, y’know, quite a lot of fun, and ‘Krazy’ by Pitbull ft. Lil’ Jon. They both sound like attention deprived children toying around in the studio, with disregard for convention. The song is very enjoyable and the chorus is cacophonous and very danceable.
I feel out of my depth with this one. I haven’t seen any of the films in this franchise (nor do I have any intention to). I don’t know how well they’ll work in the context of the film, which I suppose is their primary purpose. The press release promises ‘head thumping bangers’, and listening to the CD, these songs wouldn’t seem out of place juxtaposed with a car chase or an explosion, or sound tracking a serious-faced Vin Diesel rubbing himself against a pliant stranger in a dimly lit night club. I’d expect they’d do the job.
Worst of the bunch is Busta Rhymes’ ‘G-Stro’. He’s on autopilot here, the lyrics are pretty banal and he keeps advocating a young lady (presumably) to ‘show me your G-stro’. (What is this? Is it a car part? An item of clothing? Something rude?)
Best of the bunch are ‘Bang’ by Rye Rye ft. M.I.A, which has some fairly erratic beats, and is, y’know, quite a lot of fun, and ‘Krazy’ by Pitbull ft. Lil’ Jon. They both sound like attention deprived children toying around in the studio, with disregard for convention. The song is very enjoyable and the chorus is cacophonous and very danceable.
Maximo Park - The Kids Are Sick Again
Reviewed by Ben Lowes-Smith
The latest offering from local literate types lurches lethargically through my headphones, like Faith-era Cure on valium. I do have a great affinity for this band, but the lyrical content borders on self-parody; there’s nothing here that wasn’t better articulated on A Certain Trigger. It sounds a little bored with itself in fact, and after a mildly interesting shift ends quite abruptly, leaving a profound sense of ‘Was that it?!’. It’s not totally devoid of merit, but all it leaves me feeling is a bit bored and a bit patronised. Hopefully it will blossom when played live over the summer.
The latest offering from local literate types lurches lethargically through my headphones, like Faith-era Cure on valium. I do have a great affinity for this band, but the lyrical content borders on self-parody; there’s nothing here that wasn’t better articulated on A Certain Trigger. It sounds a little bored with itself in fact, and after a mildly interesting shift ends quite abruptly, leaving a profound sense of ‘Was that it?!’. It’s not totally devoid of merit, but all it leaves me feeling is a bit bored and a bit patronised. Hopefully it will blossom when played live over the summer.
Friday, 13 February 2009
Brakes- Hey Hey
For a band that thrives on unpredictability, the new Brakes single doesn’t disappoint in providing something unexpected; but does in just about every other way. It’s got a big, cauterizing rock riff not too dissimilar from that Hives song everyone was salivating over a while back (or even worse, long forgotten New Zealand stalwarts Stereogram), that carries with it more than a sense of déjà vu. Ultimately, it feels like it’s really not their shtick; like your dad uncomfortably enthusing about the last episode of Skins. Even eccentricities that seemed natural and playful on previous releases seem a bit forced (‘Hey! Hey! It’s a Tarzan day! BLLLLEEUUGGGGGGHHHHH!’). All in all, it’s seems like a very throwaway statement from a rather special band; not so much hitting the Brakes but cruising on autopilot, lets hope the album doesn’t see one of our generation’s best rock bands lapse into mediocrity.
Review by Ben Lowes-Smith
Review by Ben Lowes-Smith
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Howling Bells - Into the Chaos
From someone who adored the first Howling Bells record, it saddens me to say that numerous plays of this taster from their new long player (arriving next February) leaves me feeling nothing but complete ambivalence. Once the aural equivalent of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks (eerie, sophisticated, sexy), they now more accurately resemble a later episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer (slick , sanitized, a bit directionless). New levels of artistic redundancy are plumbed with the inclusion of possibly the most bewildering lyric ever; (There’s something happening/it’s in outside).
Of course, it’s not all horrendous (hence my apathetic response as oppose to a violently negative one) Juanita’s voice is still as delicious as ever, and an atmospheric, Mazzy Star-esque chorus almost redeems the song from its state of complete inauspiciousness. However, even this seems a bit self-parodic , with the band having used this formula much more effectively on earlier songs such as Setting Sun. Not bad, then, but to be honest, I’d rather they completely jumped the shark than wallow in a puddle of mediocrity.
Review by Ben Lowes-Smith
Of course, it’s not all horrendous (hence my apathetic response as oppose to a violently negative one) Juanita’s voice is still as delicious as ever, and an atmospheric, Mazzy Star-esque chorus almost redeems the song from its state of complete inauspiciousness. However, even this seems a bit self-parodic , with the band having used this formula much more effectively on earlier songs such as Setting Sun. Not bad, then, but to be honest, I’d rather they completely jumped the shark than wallow in a puddle of mediocrity.
Review by Ben Lowes-Smith
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