Search - Echoboy :: Giraffe

Junkmedia Review - Here comes the Flood

junkmedia | Los Angeles, CA | 03/03/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Richard from Nottingham wants to be a pop god. "You listen to a Bob Dylan record, listen to a Television record, listen to a Kraftwerk record, listen to a Chemical Brothers record and then put it all together. All these are the best people of their day, so if you put it together, then you should have the perfect hybrid." Easy, Richard! Relax, be yourself. First of all, you are NOT any of these people; secondly, I believe Dr. Frankenstein tried to build the perfect beast from many different parts. . . and that didn't work out so well. Richard Warren's, aka Echoboy's, third full-length album, Giraffe, is a collection of hits and misses that have one thing in common: they are all more easily accessible than his first two albums. Greater accessibility does not necessarily mean higher quality, however, and in the effort to be more 'public-friendly', Echoboy has enlisted famous producer Flood (U2, Smashing Pumpkins) to incorporate space age effects that sound a bit stale and re-hashed. "Automatic Eyes" is the first single, combining roots-rock jangle with modern bass thump, yielding a sound in line with current Brit-Pop trends. But producer Flood's influence is a negative on later Giraffe tracks. "Wasted Spaces" shows Echoboy's tendency to fall short lyrically, and Flood's influence is heavy in the super distorted guitars that sound almost identical to something from U2's Pop. Echoboy seems to find his unique pop-rock voice on "Fun In You", which turns mainstream lyrical delivery and curt phrasing into a brilliant pop song. Add the cold electroclash feel of "Don't Destroy Me", and the perfect psychedelic ending of "Nearly all the Time", and you're left with a feeling that Echoboy could have that special combination after all. Richard from Nottingham is not a pop star; in fact, he has potential for something far greater: He may be able to find that special niche equally embraced by college radio, stodgy music critics and difficult audiophiles. That's the special combination, and for anyone who wants to be authentic and viable, it's a great place to be. Will Monroe
Junkmedia Review"

Overlooked Gem of a Blend

ChrisWN | Santa Cruz, CA | 06/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have a few releases by Echoboy that I've picked up in bargain bins & I've found them to be hit or miss. I was carousing the used bargain bin & decided (again) on an Echoboy release as the freebie (buy 3, bet 1 free). What a surprise.....I have to rewind time to put this on my 10 best for 2002 now. As reviewers have noted, this is his most accessible release & much for the better. Echoboy mixes up beats, guitar & vocals in a way that is reminiscent of many artists in the postpunk, post-disco early 80s, a personal fave of music eras for me. Others are doing the same thing & getting more recognition, perhaps they are more situated in either the punk or club scenes. "Giraffe" borrows evenly from both. Think CBGB's meets Studio 54. Perhaps "Giraffe" isn't getting the recognition it deserves because of the hit-or-miss quality of his earlier bedroom excursions, but time will hopefully turn that around."

Fascinating

Douglas King | Cincinnati, OH United States | 09/21/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is intriguing and intelligent. It moves from order to chaos and back again, often in the same track. My favorite track is the slightly New Order-ish "Don't Destroy Me", which is a trancey, throbbing meditation on ... death (at least that's my interpretation). Other highlights are "Comfort of the Hum" and "Good on TV". The lyrics in the album are deep and meaningful without coming across as pretentious. The music is top-notch. I look forward to hearing more from Echoboy in the future."