 | Tracklist:
01. Foot Follows Foot
02. Clay Stones
03. Fight Song
04. Lie Like A Forest
05. Afire
06. Not In Death
07. Clover And Dirt
08. Goya Monster
09. Sweet Things Are So Hard
10. Lord Have Ass
Release Date: 2010 | |
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| Summary: Clay Stones marks an electronic band suffocating all of their potential with far too many similarities to a certain electronic artist. |
4 of 5 thought this review was well written
The Swedish brother-sister duo, Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer, formed The Knife in 1999, and have since been known for their distinct sound full of pretense and somewhat experimental tendencies. And since their sound has been awarded with several awards (primarily Swedish Grammis), it is no surprise that crops of imitators have been popping up, each one more derivative than the last. In this spirit, We Are The World is no different. Evoking far too many similarities to the Swedish siblings, this electronic outfit is just another impersonator who play it safe and have mixed results because of it. Their electropop style rarely strays from the sidewalk, and their sound is far too eerily similar to be truly enjoyable, thus making familiarity the foremost flaw on Clay Stones.
We Are The World's debut is certainly mimetic of the aforementioned artist, featuring dark electronics, cold percussion freak-outs, and heavily treated vocals; hell, even its structure is a carbon-copy. Dramatic overtones, pitch shifts, and almost a cynical use of electronics seem to have been taken from the Dreijer's bag of tricks. Shaky synths on "Afire", dark vocal interplay on the title track, and the first half of the album shows one of the more distinct electronic artist's work being "dumbed-down", as if to play it safe and give We Are The World's audience a sense of familiarity. Granted, the opener's world-conscious, bass-heavy sound is catchy, using dominating electric noises to compliment the band's pop sensibilities. Cold tones from German Post World War Two German Elektronische Muzik are evident, but they're so well-integrated that the sound seems like it came straight from one of Los Angeles's nightclubs. If the sound wasn't so "been-there-done-that", the icy gloss and constant mash of genres would be acceptable, if not completely catchy. But for now, it will just be an almost-tolerable rehash, perhaps worthy of "guilty pleasure" status. Fortunately, Clay Stones does have more potential than it seems.
While most of the tracks on Clay Stones are tedious displays of plagiarism, "Clover and Dirt" marks a turning point for We Are The World, one that shows an apposite artistic direction for them. The cantankerous and abrasive take on synthpop is a refreshing turn of events for the menacing first half and all of its glossy over-compartmentalization. Fortunately, We Are The World aren't completely tepid and safe, venturing outside of "polished" and into "damaged". Most notable on the artsy instrumental "Sweet Things Are So Hard" and the harsh yet anthemic "Goya Monster", We Are The World do occasionally bounce from The Knife's manufactured sheen and into boisterous, genuinely experimental techno music. It is here where Clay Stones stops being catchy and starts to show its world-conscious electric feel. Hopefully these ideas will be explored later in time, but for now, We Are The World is suffocating all of their potential with far too many similarities to a certain electronic artist.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 2.5
It's a shame really that this band is so Knife-centric.
Anyway, I used a lot less verbiage in order to not obfuscate my readers.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Critiwue away....
| | | Album Rating: 4
I like your review, but I think you're trying to hard to find faults with it, like a hipster or something. U kno wha I be spitting?
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Anyway, I used a lot less verbiage in order to not obfuscate my readers.
Please tell me you deliberately used those two words when you made that sentence
Digging: Amon Tobin - Amon Tobin Digging: Amon Tobin - Amon Tobin
| | | Album Rating: 4
I think he did.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
I did.
What do you take me for, Deviant? Some person who goes on vocabulary splurges? You mock me? You sir are a pervaricator.
| | | Album Rating: 3
EXACTLY!
but to a lesser extent
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If you mean a prevaricator then no, I tell the truth on all occasions
| | | Album Rating: 3
Such a terrible spelling mistake, Deviant.
| | | Album Rating: 3
Deviant would probably agree with this review
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How so?
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Ughh all of these synthpop bands sound the same.
Album=fail sandwich
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Ughh all of these synthpop bands sound the same.
Umm... and all of your emo bands don't?
How so?
I can see it too. You'll like the latter half, but not the beginning because it's so "dummmmed down" yet pretentious Knife-copy-ism.
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Again, why does that mean I'll like it?
There's also a severe case of schizophrenia itt
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He said you'll agree with the review, not like it.
And Rationalist, you're retarded for the reasons Plutonio stated.
And yeah, the ratings are basically all over the place, but give it time, and all the ratings will be about a 2.5.
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Oh, and pos.
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good review plutonio
sup guy(s)
Digging: Rites of Thy Degringolade - Totalitys Commad Digging: Rites of Thy Degringolade - Totalitys Commad
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Thank you the spirit.
Is rationalist a boy or a girl?
Always wondered.
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I suffer from Gaga Syndrome. I have both male and female genitalia along with (m/b)oobs.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
suffer?
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