Search - Blow :: Paper Television

Moments of brilliance

David Reimer | Portland, Oregon | 01/28/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Paper Television is good enough to make you hope that The Blow's upcoming album will be better. Unlike the hostile reviewer below, I felt that Khaela Maricich's vocals perfectly blend cool detachment with barely-supressed but genuine emotions. The musical arrangments, as well, show a hip but not hipster sensibility, and both music and vocals also reveal an underlying sense of humor that makes this a good listen. Which brings us to the lyrics...



At their best, songs like Parentheses, Babay, and True Affection provide intelligent pop pleasures and clever-w/out-cute lyrical surprises. At their worst, songs like Long List of Girls and Bonjour Jeune Fille feel like bad high school poetry.



The overall result is frustrating, because The Blow's arrangements are such that the lyrics stand front and center, so the weaker material cannot hide. Quite the opposite - it scratches through like nails on a chalkboard. The good songs are truly enjoyable though. Hopefully their upcoming album will offer greater lyrical balance to support the duo's basic musical strengths."

One of my faves from 2006

G. Rhabyt | California Coast | 01/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With wonderful vocals riding in and out of the lo-fi electro loops, Maricich approaches pop in both style and content, while keeping us just off balance. The tracks, like her voice, tease by touching love and sex without following through in any predictable way. A lovely frisson."

I love true affection, but this album is not for me

Captain Tetanus | WI | 09/24/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I love the song true affection, and I love her voice, but the rest of the songs are just not for me. I was pretty bummed there was nothing else along the lines of true affection, it's such a unique and interesting song."