Lower Than Atlantis
Changing Tune


2.5
average

Review

by TBliss2 USER (24 Reviews)
October 28th, 2012 | 10 replies


Release Date: 2012 | Tracklist

Review Summary: 'Changing Tune' falls short at a time when Lower Than Atlantis needed a home run.

The meteroic rise of Lower Than Atlantis has certainly not been ill-deserved. With last year’s ‘World Record’ putting them at the top of the British rock heap, a deal with major label giants Island Records quickly followed, marking a definite turning point for the band. With their sound already consistently blunted with each release, it would be fair to anticipate an even more drastic shift towards the mainstream with ‘Changing Tune’ and its new commercial backing. And, the reality of the record does indeed somewhat confirm this, with dissapointingly lacklustre results.

With a previously lacking studio sheen and polish, the album sounds undeniably impeccible, giving the tracks a slightly more refined gloss which, whilst not essential by any means, certainly sounds impressive. The issue is that the songwriting here, and indeed the flow of the album, settles so quickly into an unremarkable formulaic slog that we find ourselves with little to cling onto.

Opener ‘Prologue’ begins intriguingly enough with some understated acoustic work and gentle distortion swells, yet quickly hammers into the standard mid-tempo rocker, and from here on out we stumble through a glut of rather tired sounding numbers which confusingly lack the band’s trademark personality and chrisma. Listening to tracks such as ‘Move Along’ and ‘Go On Strike’, proceedings become so interchangable that, even with token ballad ‘Scared Of The Dark’ dropping the pace briefly, tedium rapidly digs its claws in.

Occasional glimpses of variation do shine through however, such as the bass heavy dirge of ‘Normally Strange’ and ‘War With Words’ percussion led swing, yet unfortunatley on repeated listens it becomes somewhat of a struggle to pick of any stand out moments, be it a chorus hook or memorable riff.

It’s a shame, and little baffling, that an outfit with such established talent and a knack for churning out charmingly tuneful songs could deliver a release such as ‘Changing Tune’, bereft of dynamism or zest. Perhaps working within a larger framework has exposed the band’s shortcomings or dented their craft with a new found pressure, but the fact remains that the album falls short at a time when Lower Than Atlantis needed a home run.



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user ratings (82)
3.2
good


Comments:Add a Comment 
OneMoreRoland
October 28th 2012


1053 Comments


Wars with Words is so good. Wish there was more of that on the album :/

IfYouRun
October 28th 2012


314 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Deffinitely disagree, whilst World Record was their best album for sure, this is solid.

TBliss2
October 28th 2012


508 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Thats cool, to me its just completely unremarkable though.

phishing
October 28th 2012


395 Comments


Still need to hear this

Not going in with any expectation level, band's been on a downward slope for a while now.

schoonda
October 29th 2012


1843 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

agree with you completely here. was so disappointed when i heard this, after a while i managed to enjoy a few songs on the album, but such a huge step down from World Record, upsets me.

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
December 10th 2012


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

It is not too difficult to tell that Lower Than Atlantis' 3rd LP 'Changing Tune' is their debut major label release, since it carries a slick, streamlined sound which clearly aims for a larger audience. The superior production initially enhances the English quartet's melodic hooks & energetic musicianship, but being their 3rd album in as many years, the quality of the songs soon drop off. Nothing at all is necessarily bad, but the latter half especially lacks distinction - in both senses of the word. It's time to take a break gents, so you can come back bigger & better than ever. Recommended Tracks: Love Someone Else, Go On Strike, Scared of the Dark & Normally Strange.

Tundra
March 23rd 2020


9921 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This album has non stop bangers, damn

MyMentality
March 11th 2022


1574 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

The first half is incredibly solid (genuinely prefer it to most of World Record). Just gets a little tiresome towards the end. Great album nonetheless!

Tundra
March 11th 2022


9921 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

If The World Was To End is one of their best songs, dunno why they put that on deluxe instead of the actual album

Vinnymcscoop
January 9th 2023


1672 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

They neglect some of their music videos, it's really sad

I didn't know there was a music video for Emily, until I found it on a Japanese Youtube knock-off

Good thing their almost dead fanbase uploads the LTA videos with no problem



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