Rollicking punk ride
E. A Solinas | MD USA | 09/11/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If the title doesn't pull you in, maybe the little robot holding a beaker will. This Radiant Boy's "Proud To Be A Chemist" is a fun, just-loud-enough punk-rock album perfect to frame a party around. The eight tracks are starts with the fun, sardonic "Gospel Nite Club," then proceeds to the smoother surreal "Anarchy Is Broken," the amazing "I Am A Rocket" ("I am a rocket dressed to the nines"), the beautiful "A Brightness Natural," the lackluster "Forget About The North," the fun "International Boyhood Medal," fast-paced "Problem with Mime," and finishing off with the soaring "Cartesian Plateaus.""Proud To Be a Chemist"'s primary flaw is the vocals. They're not bad, they're just hard to get to. Mike Guggino has a tendency to get a little drowned out by the guitar and bass music. The background music is pretty riveting as well, catchy without being poppish.The overall album is two-themed, with a few touching love songs (like "A Brightness Natural"), but otherwise populated with denser weirder songs (like "Cartesian Plateau"). The lyrics are fairly entertaining, a little random, but containing a sort of sarcastic wit (such as the sardonic "if everybody hates it/it must be cool").Okay, it's short. But thankfully This Radiant Boy produces an enjoyable, solid album that won't disappoint music lovers. Recommended, if the little robot didn't already beckon you in."
Awesome
E. A Solinas | 02/14/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Excellent record by one of Philadelphia's finest indie rock acts. The music is catchy, to the point, and one hell of a good time."
Highly Recommended
RockChic | Philly | 04/04/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Great indie punk album, my favorite song is I am a Rocket, but the whole thing is really good. If you are into indie rock i suggest you buy this album!"
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1
