|
| |
|
|
|
Review Summary: A Sense of Irony. Alright so, this might be some heady stuff for some people, but I want you to seriously consider this theory: this album is a joke.
I’m serious. All of the people who took it at face value were totally duped. “But I actually think it’s good,” a very small few of you might say, while others may say, “Of course this album is a joke.” (and, well, good for you! You cheeky smart arses). But seriously consider it. I mean, don’t you think it’s a little coincidental that their least creative album was called “A Sense of Purpose”? Isn’t it perhaps a little too ironic that in the very first song you hear the lyrics “We aren’t even trying!” - this one isn’t even tongue in cheek, being sung clearly and with great conviction. No, this is far too winking to be anything other than In Flames’ intention, and, honestly… It makes sense.
In Flames saw a lot of commercial and critical success with their prior album, “Come Clarity.” It wasn’t the first time they’d dabbled in poppier pools (Reroute to Remain being a shining example of this), but it did see them start to appeal to a much larger demographic with a much more mainstream sound. Thing is, they managed to retain their trademark dichotomy between clean and harsher vocals (is “dirty” perhaps the right word to use instead? it makes sense but it just looks weird. Anyway, getting a little sidetracked here). On A Sense of Purpose, those once beloved vocals have been mish mashed - both worlds colliding, playing out simultaneously and sounding very altered as a result. It seems weird doesn’t it? How the vocals could so drastically change and somehow simultaneously incorporate both styles? Well, perhaps not so strange when you strip away the thin veil behind them. Seems like a genius marketing ploy to, once more, appeal to a much broader group of people. Pseudo-intensity married with near sing-along moments. A sure-fire winning formula. In Flames’s aesthetic has clearly become quite diluted. Their staunch fans have defended their honor while a new legion of fans were able to put down their Disturbed albums and graduate to something a little edgier.
Don’t believe me? Look at the record sales. Metallica did something similar with St. Anger. Is it universally panned? You bet. Did it pay dividends and make the band moderately rich? Yes it did. Despite whatever artistic credibility a musician may endeavor for, at the end of the day who among us wouldn’t sell out for a little extra cash? (Or, in the case of many “sell-outs,” a lot of extra cash). This trend moves far beyond just music and applies to every medium in the real world. Michael bay is laughing his ass off all the way to the bank while keyboard warriors take to the internet to scold him for exploiting blatant racial stereotypes, or “Ruining [their] childhood dreams”. There is no bad publicity, my friends. Not when you’ve reached out to, as many would say, the lowest common denominator. That’s where you’re likely to make the big bucks. It’s the same reason most comic-book movie adaptations are so bad - they’re pumped out of the greedy corporate hollywood machine, not meant to evoke anything other than our money, based solely on its reputation.
In Flames is not so dissimilar. Gone is the excellent guitar work, the perfect blending of cleans and harsh vocals, the atmosphere. Instead, all of it replaced with gratuitous, catchy pop. In this case it’s all down to numbers, and the record sales and charts don’t lie. You have to give it to them though, if only for their great business acumen and subtle reference.
| other reviews of this album |
Athom EMERITUS (2)
In Flames continue their evolution from Melodic Death Metal to generic radio Metal with th...
Flamingabdabs (3)
Another In Flames album, another style change, yet strong production values and relentless...
when_darkness_falls (2.5)
In Flames continue on their crusade of changing music, but this time fall flat on their fa...
itachi1452 (3.5)
Accessible, catchy, melodic, and somewhat loyal to their roots....
DinoX (4)
A brash outing and a step in the right direction for In Flames...
Altmer (3)
There's something new on every In Flames album, but nothing radically different, and the b...
Crimsontide57 (4.5)
They age like wine, getting finer with the years....
TheMoonchild (1)
Meaningful line that sums this album up perfectly: "You receive what you give, and this is...
CoreySzn (3.5)
Are the best days of In Flames gone? Yes. Does that mean they can’t make a quality relea...
|
Fun facts: In "Alias" he says "goat" instead of "ghost" "Don't blame me, just blame my goat"
In March to the Shore:
Falling ideals
Broken seals
March to the shore
You are a killer!
the lyrics allude to a literal seal and human poachers. Pretty hilarious stuff.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Bad review.
| | |
Why, because it doesn't adhere to your narrow-minded views?
I've read some of your work and you aren't in any position to be criticizing reviews.
| | |
Dude, not cool calling out other people on their writing when they criticize you.
Your writing in general isn't bad, although I'd focus it on a more standard review format and hone your skills that way before tackling a concept review like this. This review isn't really much of a review at all, you talk about how poor the music is but how great of a marketing ploy it was and slap a 5 on there.
| | |
The 5's just meant as a joke.
Perhaps I was being a bit harsh, but coming into a review to say 'bad review' is just shitty. This should be a community of aspiring writers to share criticisms in a polite and civil way, instead of discouraging people to write.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Bad review [2]
| | |
Is this guy the joke of the site?
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
First review and you're already calling out other users. Wow.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
ugh if you're gonna be a troll at least be clever about it. This is not your being clever--rather just annoyingly confrontational for no reason. Try to be more convincing with your faux hostility, bruh.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
This is a bad review though. You don't say anything about the actual album so it's really not even a review its just you talking about how the band is mainstream now.
And yeah if you're gonna be a bitch about it then hopefully you keep popping out shitty reviews like this. m/
| | |
First review and you're already calling out other users. Wow.
What do you expect when all people say are "bad review"?
| | |
"First review and you're already calling out other users. Wow."
Lol what, I need to establish credibility before I can judge other users? What is this a fucking hierarchy?
Not trolling. I meant everything I said. I think there's a method to the madness.
| | |
@Hawks c'mon bro, let's be nice to the new guy :P
@Marina It's probably for the best you don't do a joke rating/review as your first, they're really, really difficult to nail.
| | |
At least you're expanding on your point now, Hawks, instead of just dropping insults and running. And to address your point: I don't see what the big deal is. Why do music discussions have to be primarily about the music and not about the industry or the thought behind it. Why can't we theorize? Seems like your scope of reviewing is pretty limited to wanting people to just talk about the music. And for an album as old as this, with as many reviews as there are, do you seriously want another review describing how it sounds?
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
All I said was its a bad review, which it is. Then I explained why and he's acting like a bitch.
Then leaves a message in my shoutbox saying my taste is shit because he's indeed a bitch lol. Welcome to Sputnik bro!
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
it also automatically convinces some old users that you're just another in a long line of review trolls who fail at being amusing. So if you're not a troll you should prob try to fix that sooner rather than later.
| | |
All I said was its a bad review, which it is. Then I explained why and he's acting like a bitch.
Then leaves a message in my shoutbox saying my taste is shit because he's indeed a bitch lol. Welcome to Sputnik bro!
Go away Hawks
| | |
Theorizing and the industry are always good topics, but they may be better suited for a comment thread or a forum post. Reviews in general should always reflect back to the music.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
"Why do music discussions have to be primarily about the music "
Because you posted a MUSIC review, not a music COMMENTARY. Write commentary on your blog or in a music list or somewhere more appropriate, not in a space reserved for reviews on a review site.
| | |
Reviews that have a jokey conversational tone are automatically subject to accusations of trolling? The fuck, people.
| | | |
|
| |
