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Review Summary: Like floating weightlessly in the airy, sunny summer breeze; with your head stuck in a mother fucking jet nozzle. As with any genre of music, rock and it’s many stemming sub-genres have been thrown about from fad to fad as the years have gone by. There was the hard rock craze that tore through the scene fueled by bands like Led Zeppelin and Van Halen, combining heavy guitarwork with melodic vocals; there was the grunge movement as inspired by Nirvana and Alice in Chains, it's signature muddy production and imperfect vocals; there was the catchy pop rock fronted by the Beatles and, of course, the space rock/prog phase rocketed towards us by the legendary Pink Floyd. A great deal of modern rock acts could be neatly pocketed as the result of any one of these fads; Porcupine Tree quite clearly children of Pink Floyd, the Foo Fighters a product of alt rock and grunge. Amplifier’s debut, however, is much more difficult to set about describing.
Although in some ways it combines the best elements of many different genres of rock; the gritty, crunching riffs of hard rock and the dominating atmospheres of prog rock, for example, the release doesn’t feel as thrown-together as this sounds. It doesn’t feel like some collage of musical genres stuck and spliced together for effect. It’s not like one minute you’re being bludgeoned by deafening riffs and then suddenly you’re just floating through spacey slide guitar the next; it’s all one big, cohesive experience. It’s just Amplifier. Loud and quiet, dark and uplifting, heavy and summery; something that must be heard to be appreciated.
One of the album’s greatest strengths is its ability to keep a unique and interesting atmosphere throughout what are essentially (although very long sometimes) just damned good rock songs. 'Motorhead' kicks things off with roaring guitar and melodic vocals, displaying Sel Balamir’s knack for catchy, memorable lyricism right from the get-go (Yeah but I've lived in the slip of your frown/And this place has been getting me down...Happy birthday, anyway!). 'Airborne' introduces the floaty, airy and gloriously uplifting atmosphere that envelops the entire album before slowly building into a huge instrumental climax, and from here on out it's smooth sailing. ‘Neon’ provides the next highlight; it’s the shortest and most instantaneous song on the album, empowering, epic, and just too catchy to resist. ‘On/Off’ slows things down and introduces some of the most effective lyricism of the album (You’re where the rain doesn't pour...It just floats down...) before the album comes to a stunning close with the one/two punch of 'One Great Summer' and ‘UFO’s’ uplifting, sunny melodies.
I could tell you this album was as much Van Halen as it was Pink Floyd or some other comparison along those lines but I really wouldn’t be doing it any justice; Amplifier is Amplifier, and too unique to be anything else; as atmospheric as anything but at the same time fun, instant, uplifting and catchy. It’s not without its flaws – some tracks certainly do drag on a little too long and there are times when the vocal melodies and riffs start to sound a little too similar for comfort – but Amplifier is a thoroughly enjoyable record and, to this day, the greatest thing this band has ever achieved.
Recommended tracks: One Great Summer, Neon, On/Off, Motorhead, UFO’s
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Album Rating: 4.5
It's easily their best LP to date. Great review.
Change 'it's ability' to 'its ability' and 'it's flaws' to 'its flaws'
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Haven't done this in so long, so apologies if the review sucks. Still, loving this album. The Octopus
ain't doing much for me though.
Constructive criticism appreciated guys!  EDIT: Thanks greg!!
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It’s not like one minute you’re being bludgeoned by deafening riffs and then suddenly you’re just floating through spacey slide guitar the next; it’s all one big, cohesive experience. It’s just Amplifier. Loud and quiet, dark and uplifting, heavy and summery; something that must be heard to be appreciated.
Sounds like I'll dig this, as an Oceansize die-hard
Pos
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Yeah I think they share a good amount of fans with Oceansize. UFO's is definitely the highlight here for me.
Thanks for the pos =)
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"Nirvana and Alice in Chains, it’s signature the muddy production and imperfect vocals"
"Amplifiers debut.......
Although in some ways it combines the best elements of many different genres of rock; the gritty, crunching riffs of hard rock and the dominating atmospheres of prog rock, for example, Amplifier doesn’t feel as thrown-together as this sounds. "
reads a bit strange. "it combines" i assume you are talking about the album because the band would be a "they" but calling it Self-Titled or sticking with debut would be much less confusing. Not a big deal though, Pos'd.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Alright, did a few edits, thanks!
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Neon and One Great Summer are the tits.
Good review, posd.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
nice review man, album rules
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Hey, you finally reviewed it! Pos'd
Ive only actually heard The Octopus so far, so I should probably get this after Echo Street.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Jammed this on bandcamp. Love his voice on this one, a lot more grungy than later stuff.
Motörhead, On/Off, UFOs m/
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Wow, since when did this drop to a 4.0 0.o
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
summary is accurate
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Yeah, summary is perfect, rating is a tiny bit off
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
UFO's :o
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
In my opinion, one of the best albums ever made. I simply cannot believe nobody else has given it a 5. Yeh it's a bit over produced but who gives a shit? It's an utter triumph. From the first track to the last, it just blows me away. I listen to it every day and have done since 2004. This and "Superunknown" are the two best records of all time.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Production is one of the best things about this album. Chris Sheldon is a rather unknown but brilliant producer, who really knows how to give an album a pristine and crisp sound.
Also the first three songs are 5/5.
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Rules.
bump
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Still a mighty great record
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