Nearly every GD fan has heard of these guys. The supposed Green Day side project have released their debut CD and, having got it way before it came out here by my "american friend", I listened to this new wave record.
I have to say it's surprising how you can use effects effectivly and The Network have done it. Their "Aquabat" style seem sto work for them and the album almost sounds space-age.
JOE ROBOT (7/10):
A fairly boring song but it works. The idea of Billie's voice echoing for a second time after it's sung is very good and well made. The song however has a boring verse but the chorus isn't bad.
TRANSISTORS GONE WILD (6/10):
Not my favourite song, Billie's voice is very high pitched and has had lots of effects put into it for the verses, but the chorus is again very effective. Not a bad song I guess.
RETO (7/10):
This is a pretty catchy song. It has that Green Day vibe to it and makes the song very worthwhile to listen to. No chorus' here, just verses about "Reto"...
SUPERMODEL ROBOTS (8/10):
The main song off this album and listened to off [url]www.adelinerecords.com,[/url] this is traditional Green Day. Drumming intro, 3 chord verses and hard rocking chorus. A favourite on the album.
MONEY MONEY 2020 (8/10):
The "ein, zwei, drei, vier" intro leads into this rocking song. Not very imaginative, one verse and chorus repeated throughout the song, but Billie has made it work and it is a good track to listen to.
SPIKE (10/10):
Well done Billie! He's managed to make a new style of song! This is a Billie on the phone tlaking as "Brandon/Spike" who has moved out with his girlfriend and is making his own way in life WITH THE BAND PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND. It is a genius song and easily my favourite on the album. This really makes you think the album is gonna produce something special...
LOVE AND MONEY (8/10):
...But no, more simple songs. Almost Misfit like, this is a catchy song. This song is screaming that this is Green Day and without the effects it probably could be. A simple chorus of "Love and money, well spent" makes for a good song too. But it is very short (1:21).
RIGHT-HAND-A-RAMA (7/10):
Almost "Joe Robot" like, this is a catchy song to. Billie's voice is distorted throughout the song and it is a basic song. A main riff played throughout the verse, chords on the chorus. A nice song to listen to.
ROSHAMBA (5/10):
Not a favourite. With an album as simple and lifeless as this, you'd expect some imaginative songs. But this is another pretty boring song.
HUNGARY HUNGARY (2/10):
Oh dear. Where did they go wrong? This is all synthesised and they haven't done it well. If I heard this without hearing the whole album I would bin it straight away. No one should listen to this!
SPASTIC SOCIETY (4/10):
Pretty much another "Roshambo" but with Billie's voice all gay and such. The lyrics don't make any sense, the music is boring and lifeless and it just get's tiresome after such good songs from the start.
X-RAY HAMBURGER (4/10):
Like I said, get's boring very fast. The end of this album and the band has made me think that all their tracks are the same. I have heard two more of their songs (Hammer Of The Gods and Teenagers From Mars (Misfits cover) ([url]http://www.thenetworkband.com/networknews.html[/url]) and they aren't bad, it's just that they aren't all on one album.
At first this seems like another Green Day album with effects and synthesisers but then about 3/4 way through you begin to see there is nothing imaginative about this side project, just another way to get music out. Sorry Network, this isn't as good as I expected it to be.
3/5
