Review Summary: Vrenna could have done much more to impress. You could hear it on the album. He just never went there.
Upon first popping this album in I was greeted with what sounded like something Depeche Mode would throw on one of their latter albums for filler. It was to poppy, too bland, and too generic (Linoleum) I was really hoping that this sound would not indicate what the rest of the album had in store. It didn't….
In fact I was taken on a journey through all of what the world of electronica had to offer. Tweaker(Chris Vrenna) was my guide and he promised me he had much to offer.
He started me off with some samples, a nice relaxing beat, and about 50mg of Ecstacy to get me in the mood(Years From Now). Then he grabbed me and took me through a dark, populated, futuristic city. Here there was everything you see in the movies. Abandoned, and colorless buildings, honking horns, rain filled streets, depression, crime, transients shooting heroin. All what the futuristic, underground universe had to offer (Swamp) .
Tweaker showed me around the city, took me through the darkest of alleys, to the poorest of bums. To the bumping clubs playing thumping music we could only enjoy in our state of mind (Turned) . He took me to a bridge. A calming sight. The water was rushing below in the night. He told me to listen. A man was in the middle of a shady looking crowd, preaching about Jesus, a kid somewhere ***ed up. He told us not to feel, not to smile. His words hit me hard. This was my favorite part of the journey (Happy Child ) . After the man spoke the sun suddenly came up and everyone morphed into something comical, like a caricture of what we all thought should be dark, and frightening(The Drive-Bye/Take Me Alive). Perhaps the X was wearing off, or maybe it was just taking a turn for the happy and boring. No, I was wrong. As I was beginning to sober up I was assaulted by something harsh, loud, and intriguing. It was a break-beak behind something akin to the highest notes of a piano being hit by a hammer (Susan/Microsize boy/Full Cup Of Coffee).
I was hoping it would stay this way, but I guesss Vrenna had different plans. He didn't want to leave me frightened, but he didn't want to leave me smiling either. So he took me to his hideout; a dank alley with a laptop, and 30 foot speakers, with sub to match. He wanted to show me what he could do. Some strong beats, some noise here, some noise there. A mutated voice. Nothing impressive(Empty Sheet Of Paper/After All/Come Play). He told me the journey was over, and I could leave when I told him what I thought. So here begins my review….(just kidding)
I told him I thought what he was doing was interesting. It kept me listening, but it wasn't something I hadn't heard before. I told him he started me off thinking I was in for a great ride, but I soon realized he just wanted to sell some records. I told him I think sometimes he was trying to show me what I wanted to hear, and not what he could create. Not what I knew he could explore---what he gave me a taste of and then took away in favor of something nicer….prettier. Maybe next time he could impress me, and I'll be waiting. This time, however, I'll just keep listening to tracks 2-10.
