Maybe were missing the point here
D. K. Jackson | Madison, WI | 12/28/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"So far it seems like a lot of what I've read online about this group doesn't really describe their music very well. Even in the press it seems like everyone is using off the mark phrases like "sugar high" and "spaz rock" to talk about this. I think both these phrases and online reviews (including the other reviews here) written about this album have some truth in them but they don't really do justice. By going over what I think are the shortcomings with these things I can hopefully give you a clear idea of what the merits of the music are and why I love it so much.
First I'll talk about one of the two other reviews. The reviewer that calls this album "atrocious" says that this album is cacophonous mess, and then goes on to say that the guitarist and drummer are talented (which they are). This right there is a contradiction, although based partly on the truth. The music is wild and abstract and the singing is basically wordless shouts and occasional chants, but it's about the energy and feeling which are part of what makes this such a special album.
Phrases like "sugar high" and "spaz rock" are not totally off the mark, but those kind of words kept me from checking out this band for a while. They give you the impression that the music is directionless and annoyingly over-excited. The music is anything but those two things. It is some of the most ecstatically happy music I've heard and it is excited but it's not exactly what it would sound like if a bunch of twitching spazzers formed a band. It's crazy and kind of out of control, but these guys have a vision and are flying like a rocket head-first strait towards it.
Check out the samples, download the free track on their label's (Now We Are Free) website. It's not for everyone, but if you like what you hear get this album, it'll reward you."
Atrocious
Luke Robinett | 12/25/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)
"This album is a cacophonous mess posing as high art. It's the musical equivalent of scribbling on a canvas with a red crayon, peeing on it, and calling it art. It's a shame that such a great drummer and clever guitarist are stuck in such a terrible project. The female "singer" doesn't demonstrate any sense of melody or musical coherency. Instead, she seems to yelp, shout, make childlike noises, and generally run the rest of the music into the ground with her over-the-top ridiculousness. I was actually insulted by this record. They must assume the Pitchfork masses are such mindless sheep they'll buy anything that site reccommends. The attitude on this record seems to be one of, "we can bang on our instruments, wale like banshees and you'll still buy it, you fools!" I guess if you like bands such as Deerhoof, you'll like this tripe. I will pass."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1