 | Tracklist:
1. Gravity
2. Wise People
3. Pleaser
4. Yellowstone Lady
5. Irregular
6. Ribcage
7. Different Girls
8. Bloomer
9. Durian
10. Chautauqua County
11. The One
Release Date: 01/11/2011 | |
| | other reviews | BobMcflum (4)
First contender to the album of the year if you ask me^^... |
On 30 Lists
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| Summary: What is this, amateur hour? |
4 of 7 thought this review was well written
Lemuria most likely chose their name for the same reason many bands do-- it sounds appropriate or maybe generates interest, it fits. They probably didn’t anticipate it being this fitting though. Cursory research shows that the concept of “Lemuria” stems from a 19th Century hypothesis about a now-sunken continent that used to connect Asia and Africa. The hypothesis, besides being fodder for particularly nonsensical sci-fi novels, is now known as a famous debunked theory. It’s difficult not to form a hypothesis for Pebble, too. Lemuria’s sophomore album is being released by Bridge Nine Records, a prominent and predominately hardcore record label who are making a little leap of faith by promoting what is strictly pop-punk here: tame pop-punk at that, there’s little hardcore, punk, or emo influence on Pebble. Which isn’t a negative in its own right, it just means the songs would be just as appropriate for little sisters as they would you. Personally, I’d rather my sis’ discover some better quality pop-punk than this, for Pebble is stagnate and lifeless, vocal duties especially. My hypothesis that Lemuria would set themselves up nicely with a strong early-2011 release, based on factors like the fact that J. fucking Robbins is producing the record along with the general internet excitement surrounding Pebble, was sadly proven just as false as 19th Century crazy zoologist Philip Sclater’s ridiculous guess at a submerged lost land that he decided to name after lemurs, of all animals.
In case the cutesy cover didn’t make it clear enough, Lemuria is fronted by a boy-and-girl duo, and on Pebble they often sing back and forth to each other about “Why do you love me?” and equally-annoying topics. In other cases, this approach can be especially endearing, or seem heartfelt and genuine. On Pebble though, the listener is left out of the equation. We’re left looking in rather than being able to relate. The singing from both parties is flat and unenthusiastic, to a glaring fault. It leaves a significant hole in the album, a shame because the gritty guitars can be so impressive at times, a definite testament to Mascis’s production. Lemuria reaches a nadir on the album with “Different Girls.” An instrumentally dull, repetitive track, it details the girls’ worries about what the guy does on tour with drinking, other girls, and cliches abound. In a long-distance relationship myself, I feel I’m supposed to relate to her nagging and relentless worrying. Rather, “Different Girls” will undoubtedly leave you cringing convulsively, wondering why anyone would listen to this for pleasure. It’s odd, because while the percussion and guitars display obvious adeptness with their instruments, but the singing is so unbearably amateur that it could have been better performed by a couple singing to each other in a car-- and in particularly lackluster manner, too. Much of Pebble resides in the same vein. The horrid, hackneyed lyrics compounded with an unemotive delivery forces the instrumental work in the background, which manages to achieve a consistently interesting texture and melody here and there (“Gravity” and “Pleaser,” two of the catchiest), to be Lemuria’s small saving grace. While Pebble can be lovably carefree and unambitious at times, the album is beyond saving. It’s a shame, because an energetic, rattling pop-punk album to herald in 2011 could have been as exciting as finding out there’s a secret, submerged continent off the coast of Africa.
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lol
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but there is a secret, submerged continent off the coast of Africa.
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
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shhhhh...
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I just tried listening to this. Turned it off after track 3 or so. Pretty disappointing after hearing so much good stuff about this band.
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Don't suppress the truth eric.
what do you think this is?
Airstrip One?
| | | Album Rating: 3
very well-written, I'll go ahead and avoid this even though they are Buffalo natives like myself.
pos'd.
Digging: Spraynard - Funtitled Digging: Spraynard - Funtitled | | |
good review sea, this sounds stupid. will avoid
Digging: Hop Along - Get Disowned
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I'll be honest, this was so not my thing to the point that I stopped reading. But what I read what top-notch. Great work. This just sound so boring.
Digging: Suis La Lune - Riala Digging: Suis La Lune - Riala
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
I LIKE THIS CD. FUCK YOU
Digging: Love American - Disquiet Digging: Love American - Disquiet | | |
shhhhhhh
Digging: Taal - Skymind Digging: Taal - Skymind
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Great review - the submerged continent thing must be the best segue I've seen in a review since...I don't know when lol. Pos.
Digging: My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
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your best neg review I have read.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
yes, this is boring; her voice is like fucking annoying
| | | Album Rating: 3
i probably like this since it remember me of the nineties. Gravity for inctance is very good sadly right after gravity the rest of the songs come in. they arn't perticulary bad but theyre nothing to write home about either. 3/5
| | | Album Rating: 5
Actually, this is a pretty poorly written review with a lot of wrong information. Lemuria is a trio, not a duo...just because the cover only has 2 people on it doesn't mean it's a duo. The Clash "S/t" only had 3 members on the cover, but they weren't a trio. Cheap Trick albums only have 2 people on the cover and they aren't a duo.
Also, this album was not recorded by J. Mascis. It was recorded by J. Robbins.
This album is incredible, just saw them last night in DC.
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yeah I know it's a trio I was referring to the duo on the cover lol you just misunderstood it's ok no need to give me examples that only serve to build on the misunderstanding
my mistake, confusing the two is something I've done before and something I'll probably do agin, thanks for the catch
I dunno... I wouldn't say that's a lot of wrong info there, was there more stuffs I missed?
But yeah thanks for letting me know broski
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
I had thought about reviewing this, but my disappointment with it turned me to other projects. What makes it even worse is that I absolutely adore Gravity, but everything else feels average to poor. Very disappointing all-around.
| | | Album Rating: 3
i dont see whats so wrong with this
Digging: Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead Digging: Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead | | | Album Rating: 4.5
Nah, it's a nice album..
Pssstt... the singing is supposed to be flat and no you don't have to like it.
Digging: Alabama Shakes - Alabama Shakes | | |
They reminded me a bit of the Lemonheads....i'd probably have lapped this up ten years ago...
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