Search - No Knife :: Riot for Romance

Riot for better music

Nick | Lake City / Gainesville, FL | 12/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I would normally not want to give a CD a "perfect" 5 stars, but in this case, since this album came out in September, I have literally listened to it every single day. I would also not normally put my opinion in here, but I've seen more negative reviews of this CD than I have positive... I've been a huge No Knife fan since "Hit Man Dreams," and eagerly anticipated the follow up to "Fire in the City of Automotons." I expected great things from No Knife, but I didn't expect such an amazing album. Where "Fire..." was a great album, for some reason it seemed slightly "off," "Riot.." comes back with No Knife stronger than ever, and talking about making another album soon. "Riot for Romance!" feels like an actual album in the best sense of the word, rather than just a collection of songs...And where most CD's out there today, especially in the dreaded "emo" category, where all the songs are more or less the same, No Knife offers variety (go from a beautiful slow song like "Feathers and Furs" to the fast, loud and edge "Flechette"). Starting with the rocking title track, all the way to the slow, stunningly beautiful "This Moonlife," No Knife run through a whole spectrum of emotions and moods, quite unlike any other album I've heard in a long while. No Knife is pretty much unlike any other band out there, beyond the odd influence that can be heard here and there (and no I don't listen to "emo" actually, especially not the garbage No Knife get compared to, such as Jimmy Eat World...) In mood "Riot for Romance!" almost reminds me of a jazz album, in that it moves through emotions and almost "feels" nighttime. Maybe the negative comes from the same type of people who watch a movie that maybe doesn't spoonfeed them the same old packaged deal so they automotically shy away... In the end, these opinions, good or bad, should not dictate what you buy or don't buy....But if you are looking for something new and emotional and rocking and unlike most of what's out there, this album is it."

A great come back

Nick | Cleveland | 08/12/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"so when this album came out i was excited because ive been a fan of no knife for a while and i will admit i hadn't bought one of they're cd's until now. id been one of those douchebags who just download songs. but i wanted to support them so i bought this and when it came in im happy to say it was very satisfying. although its alittle softer than my favorite album of theirs "Fire in the City of Automatons" it still has its great rock tracks like "the red bedroom" and "permenent for now". overall i think its a good buy but id go for Fire in the City of Automatons over Riot for Romance."

One of the year's rocking-est

philster | Georgia | 12/06/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No Knife triumphantly turns after a three year hiatus with "Riot For Romance", and it has been worth the wait. Their quirky, angular sound is a testament to how strong musicianship and melodic sensibility are the keys to making a truly outstanding disc. The guitar riffs are highly creative, while the bass lines provide a steady undergirding. These combine with their trademark echo-ey vocals to create something at once familiar and fresh. The fire and fury of the title track and "Swinging Lovers" are certainly new ground for the band, while they stick to more familiar territory with equally excellent results on the rest of the album. This is what rock needs."