Search - Neon Neon :: Stainless Style (Dig)

Completely under the radar.

Kevin Satterwhite | Houston, TX United States | 03/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album was a bit of a surprise. I had no expectations at all about it. I'm familiar with Boom Bip but wouldn't necessarily call myself a fan. I haven't really payed attention to his career besides what little he did with Doseone back in the days. What really inspired me to check this band out was Gruff Rhys. For those not familiar with Gruff by name, he is the lead singer of Super Furry Animals. I'll tell you what, this band is pretty great...



It's an electronic 80s throwback album and the production is stellar. Gruff's voice works really nice with the production too. This album is a true gem.



"I Told Her In Alderaan" is my favorite. From the moment it begins, the 80s electronic melodies sound so pure it's hard to believe in came out in 2008 and not 1988. "I Lust U" is another great song. It's got a great dance beat and is just completely hypnotic. "Steel Your Girl" is a subtle, melodic gem. "Dream Girls" sports another incredible beat on the album with some 50s inspired vocal melodies. It's pretty good... I am just a big fan of this album. "Raquel" is like a pure 80s disco number. "Belfast" has an amazing melody to it. "Michael Douglas" is an atmospheric dance song.



All of those songs are stellar. There is something I don't like about this album, however. There are 3 songs on here that feature rapping. They just don't fit with the rest of this album and doesn't make much sense being here. I'll tell you what though, out of these songs, "Luxury Pool" isn't half bad.



These guys do an excellent job creating a homage to electronic and rock bands of the 80s who obviously influenced their direction such as The Cars, Depeche Mode, The Fixx and so on.



This album is awesome. It's as simple as that. I am completely blown away by it and am a giant fan of this act. I sincerely hope this is not the only album these guys will collaborate on because I just want more more more right now! Don't stop, please, give us more!"

2 Sides to Every LP

Kristian A. Strom | Andover, KS | 09/18/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Could be the soundtrack for a Bret Easton Ellis novel. There are odes to cars, The Cars, Raquel Welch and Michael Douglas. The standout tracks are "I Told Her on Alderaan", "Steel Your Girl", "Dream Cars" and "I Lust You" featuring Cate Le Bon. The album seems to fluctuate between dance-pop (Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals influenced) and hip-hop (Boom Bip influenced), and the rap tracks don't work quite as well, although most of them are at least fun to listen to the first time through. "Sweat Shop" becomes downright annoying after a few listens though. I would hope that the next project from these guys focuses more on the Gruff material, and less on the hip-hop side of things. The cover art seems appropriate as well, and should give you an idea of what to expect."

Excellent Throwback Album with Modern Edge

Leif Sheppard | United States | 05/27/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Acts as diverse as Pacific! to The Killers have proven that adding an eighties edge to modern pop/rock arrangments can be highly successful fusions. It is a refreshingly original trend, despite that implicit fact that the bands are merely taking their influences to a literal extreme.



Neon Neon, for instance, utilized many instruments manufactured in the eighties to create the sound on their debut effort "Stainless Style". The record is a unique concept album conceived around the high-profile playboy lifestyle of John DeLorean.



The eighties tribute theme is noticably prevalent on the album's strongest tracks: "I Lust U", "Dream Cars", "Belfast", and "I Told Her On Alderaan". These tracks constantly pop up on my playlists over a year after discovering this album!



Unfortunately, the other half of the record is constructed with more pedestrian fare. Tracks like "Trick for Treat", "Luxury Pool", and "Sweat Shop" tread typical modern R&B blueprints with yawn-inducing results.



Still, this is a grand record well worth the purchase...and isn't that a sweet album cover?"