Death From Above 1979
You're a Woman, I'm a Machine

Release Date: 2004 | Tracklist

Punk or dance. Dance or punk. The argument is long, exasperating and pointless in the long run. Death From Above fit in both categories, and do both a small amount of justice. The Talking Heads, New Order, and most other post-punk groups also have been mentioned numerous times in this argument. But the main difference is, those bands actually knew themselves what they were and what they played. Death From Above sound confused.

Let's put it this way, the band are talented musicians and know how to take the punk accusation and make it justifiable. They are a duo, of bass, drums, keys and vocals, and they can create some good dance rock numbers as well has have the ferocity of the punk genre. But the band, whether they play both genres at once or split it up, don't know how to make it a more unique perspective, not just among the new indie rock wave but among themselves. The punk songs, fast and abrasive, yet rhythmic, know how to get their styling across with brutal force. Songs like "Turn It Out", "Cold War" and "Pull Out" are all ferociously punk, short and energetic, yet the band never takes any steps forward. They don't have guitar, which though seeming like a minor problem, actually serves up issues for the band, while initially seeming creative and elbow-greased. It sounds more empty, and the band doesn't seem to step out of their safe zone, something that could have helped the album alot, sparing it's repetetiveness for a while.

The dance numbers are energetic, fun and repetetive, amounting in either a great listen or a "Good God enough already" listen. In terms of individual songs, there are arguments for both. "Sexy Results" is actually quite entertaining; it's a funky six minute jam with sexy and sassy instruments and whispery, dirty vocals strewn overtop. "Go Home Get Down" is a fun song, taking it's cues from the band's more punk side and serving up a dish of aggressive danceyness. It ain't bad, and I could even picture myself puttin my groove thang on to it, thanks to it's wonderfully oddball chorus, with rhythm, funk and noise - something that the band should have taken into consideration for every song. But then again, the band falls short on songs like "Little Girl", a ballad of old school rock 'n' roll proportions, but sped up. It's fun, energetic, but as said before it sounds almost empty and uninspired. It doesn't help that it's extremely repetetive either.

So this leaves us with an average album. Though some songs stick out like a sore thumb in terms of enjoyability and overall goodness, this album has it's share of sleepers enough to bring down the rating at least one star. It's lack of diversity is frustating, it's sound is well concieved but stretched out for an embarrasingly long time (considering the sound is somewhat uninspired but fun), and the band don't know when to combine their sounds that well. But once in a while, there's a surprising song that'll get your booty shaking, your fists pumping and your headphones throbbing. Spotty, but not to say it's necessarily bad.

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4 excellent

Rank: #139 for 2004