Review Summary: A disaster you can sing along to.
(It's Not War) Just the End of Love
An unexpected opening. It’s lively, this could get me out of bed in the morning. The chorus: ‘It’s not a war just end of love’ It could get me out of a lot more then bed. I expected something grittier from MSP but this could work. The solo is bit cheesy. However the chorus returns to save the situation.
Postcards from a Young Man
This is melodic. I can’t stop myself from swaying side to side. Nice build up near the end with the choir singing. I am amped up for the barn burner.
Some Kind of Nothingness
Oh dear, again a feel good song with a sing-a-long chorus. There seems to be a guest vocalist on this one. (Echo & Bunnyman’s Ian McCulloch as I find out later) His vocals are pleasant and discretely snuck into the song. That’s the only reason I am listening to it and not skipping it.
The Descent – (Pages 1 & 2)
Finally a strong song. Still too happy go lucky for my taste. The chorus’ lyrics and the music just don’t fit. Is he making fun of someone? Is it meant to be ironic or just bad. He’s singing ‘This is my last descent I am hoping I am making sense’ but I find lyrics ‘I really like apple sauce, I hope there’s some left’ more fitting. I sing that on the following two choruses and the song is better.
Hazleton Avenue
The first notes play and I’m losing all hope of hearing a punk or rock song on this album. The chorus inspires me. I imagine a fake TV show with this as its theme song. The show is about bunch 30-somethings trying to relive their youth. It’s a mixture of drama and comedy. It’s a cliché and sleazy, so is the song. The innovative 3-second string interlude at 2:24 comes too late to save this song.
Auto-Intoxication
Power chords! No strings! This song is dark, well compared to other songs so far. Following a twisted little guitar melody there’s a powerful chorus. This what I was waiting for. I’ve thankfully forgotten all the tiring happy songs. Maybe there is a chance for this album. There’s the melody and the chorus again. I am really enjoying this.
Golden Platitudes
A piano riff? Ballad time! Familiar but pleasant melody. The last song really put me in the mood I can actually sing along to this song. I like the line ‘I fell back in love with love. I know that it might sound odd’. It makes me think of things I shouldn’t write about in this review.
I Think I've Found It
Noooooooooo! What’s that? A lute? It’s that supposed to be experimental? A new show idea! It features Rob Schneider in a wacky Greek adventure. ‘You can do it!’ This is awful but it’s also over, thankfully. The album is horrid again.
A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun
Rock drums and muted guitars, but it can’t make me care anymore. All this sounds formulaic and empty. Just like the song I have nothing new to say.
All We Make Is Entertainment
Come on James Dean Bradfield, show some emotion. The occasional machine gun drums catches my ear but not fails to bring me back. I am glancing at how much time is left.
who gives...
The album ends. My mind wondered off the last two songs, I can’t be bothered to go back.
As I search my apartment for something to eat I sing ‘I really like apple sauce, I hope there’s some left’
