Uh Oh, were the first words that came to mind when I saw the words "emo" and my heart honestly recessed further into my being when I saw the first track, "Kill Myself". But I was determined to review this with an open mind.
Right, first up is production. The production for this album is not brilliant, if anything its sub-par even for an album made in 2001, but the fact is, it doesn't need to be, as I will explain later.
The first track appropriately named, "Kill Myself" is an uninspiring, dull and passive track. I believe that albums should start off in the best way possible, they should grab you by the collar and say "Hey, listen to this...punk" or something a little more derogatory. This album does not do this, it does not excite or grab my attention in anyway. The track passed me by, quietly as if it was trying to rob me rather than alert me of its presence. Before I knew it, I was on the 4th track. That's the main problem with this album, it sounds samey. I hate to use that term without just cause, it just sounds like you're a lazy reviewer. But I really have tried, I've listened to this album at least 4 times since it was posted. I'm going to put it down to the rather formulaic song structure and very lazy song writing.
It wasn't till "Line Drawing Dead Winter" came along did my ears perk up a little. This was mainly due to the rather random addition of a trumpet and some subtle whispers, which really did surprise me. The rest of the accompaniment feels lack luster, but not in a clever minimalistic kind of way, just lazy.
Afterwards its back to the grind of twinkling chords and dire singing, the most uninspiring of all "instruments" on the album. The tag emo has got me genuinely curious about the lyrics of the songs of which i decided to look up. Which is something I normal only do when I can't understand what is actually being sung, I regret ever doing it for the band Necrophagis, but that's another story.
The Lyrics are pretty vague. They certainly appear to have no immediate meaning, what annoyed me was the lack of any...interesting words. Its seemed dull, and unimaginative which is pretty fitting with the album.
I keep listening to this album trying to find something that I like, or that interests me and i just can't. My general opinion of the band is that they are a talentless bunch, who picked up there instruments for the first time a few months back and then decided to create an album so incredibly dull it wouldn't even register a complaint from your Nan if you decided to turn it up to unnecessarily high volumes.
I have no highlights for this album. My score...
1/5
Don't take it personally Matt.
Ouch.
ReplyDeleteCorrrr That is scathing.
ReplyDeleteYou said at the begining about the poor production and how you would explain why it doesn't have to be... but you never did. :(
I enjoyed your honesty.
Yh, I realise that now. Basically, there is so little in the way for entertainment here that I wouldn't care if it was recorded with one, sock engulfed microphone. No amount of money put into production would make this album more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm honest I'm not a big fan of highly produced albums. I like to hear something which is good despite not having a load of money plouged into it. Money makes any band good.
ReplyDeleteI'm 100% that this band had no money to put into production. This is the mid 90s mid-west underground punk scene - no one has any money.
ReplyDeleteStill, that won't make you enjoy the album.
I'm an Audiophile, I can't help it...
ReplyDeletei think the music is good and sometimes overproduction is bad especially with bands like enter shakari and the old school bands like ac/dc and led zep
ReplyDelete