 | Saetia A Retrospective
4.1
excellent
| Ranking: #28 for 2001 | |
| |
| | Full Review | Ratings (748) |
Give your Rating |
| 4.5 superb | br3ad_man | August 27th 06 |
Since their implosion in 1999, Saetia have become somewhat of a legend for many hardcore and emo fans worldwide. Their members have gone on to participate in such projects as Off Minor, Hot Cross and even Interpol. A Retrospective documents all of the material Saetia recorded in their time together as a band. The songs are short and fast and generally trade between heavy, aggressive parts and soft, clean passages. Vocalist Billy Werner screams, howls, sings and speaks over the top of this and ultimately delivers some incredibly powerful music. At 74 minutes, A Retrospective is raw emo at its most pure. A great starting point for those new to the genre and an essential release for fans.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | MichaelJordan | April 6th 10 |
Even within the screamo/emo genre, a style of music that most people know I do not like, this is one of the worst things I've ever heard. The screaming just sounds hilariously bad. The lyrics and subject matter are completely inane, and the production quality is just horrendous. "Venus and Bacchus" is one of the greatest insults to Greco-Roman mythology that I've had to listen to. There is a connection here with Alex Madara, Saetia's bassist who died in 1998. I plan to offer an alternative explanation for his death in a forthcoming full-length review.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | IslamicPenguins | February 28th 13 |
Some tracks on this are essential if you're a fan of the genre, but some are unbearably bad, but the strengths outweigh the negatives on this compilation.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | Plutonio | April 6th 10 |
While those who lack indie cred jump on Saetia's bandwagon, a few thoughts come to my mind, nay, misconceptions of the misinformed, impressionable twit. For starters, Saetia did not define the genre of screamo, let alone emo (yes, the genres are different in the way that emo is less intense than screamo). Indian Summer, I Hate Myself, and many other bands played this sound in a far more exceptional manner than that of Saetia. Second, though sometimes caustic, the lyrical stylings of Saetia as well as some of the music, hit trite moments. Example A: "Roquentin" and several other tracks are just entirely placid attempts at angular dissonance. As well as impotent, these songs are contradictory to their genre. Forced emotion isn't emotion, its fucking pathetic. Third, Billy Werner was nothing new in the vocal department. Moans, squeals, and spoken word segments have been used since the mid-80's. The same goes for the balance of chaos and beauty. Sadly it is these flaws that do not allow for a phenomenal screamo album. Yet, there is immense potential. "Some Natures Catch No Plagues" is an interesting take on evocation. Similarly, "Notres Langues Nous Trompent" is an energetic track, expressing frustration adeptly. And "Venus And Bacchus" is a fun, if repetitive track. Though many other tracks are also great, there are so ver many flaws.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | finedaytodie | June 13th 09 |
This band is nothing special. They did not define a genre, nor were they ahead their time. There were plenty of bands playing this style before Saetia played their first show to the lot of 15 or 20 people at the ABC No Rio... namely Don Martin Three, Anomie, and Indian Summer to name a few... and guess what, those bands are all actually exceptionally good.
I just find it ironic how many people there are out there who honestly feel Saetia were some sort of big deal, or are delusional enough to think they some how birthed the screamo genre. No one cared about this band when they were active, and they continued not caring until their vinyls started selling for 50 bucks a pop on ebay. And might I add, that train is leaving the station, so... that's right, you guessed it... soon no one will care once again.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Cormano | January 21st 24 |
| 5.0 classic | nbats | October 2nd 23 |
| 3.0 good | ffs | August 22nd 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Khaini | June 8th 23 |
| 5.0 classic | FunJan | July 27th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | nilsson | October 15th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Harff7 | September 16th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Jerrad | July 3rd 21 |
| 3.0 good | Roidv | June 26th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh | April 6th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | random | February 10th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Fort23 | November 10th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | kevbogz | October 31st 20 |
| 4.5 superb | shira | July 14th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Belbew | July 7th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | February 24th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Uzumaki | February 17th 20 |
| 3.5 great | Wolfe | November 27th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | ian b | June 23rd 19 |
| 4.5 superb | crab | February 16th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | RobYung | August 9th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | ian b. | April 14th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Spluger | February 26th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Iuna | December 7th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jekub | October 13th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Emo | September 16th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | tofue | June 20th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | YANJ | June 15th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | tgdv | May 25th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Henry | May 2nd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Tom Read CONTRIBUTOR | March 28th 16 |
| 3.0 good | torts | October 4th 15 |
| 3.5 great | boab92 | June 23rd 15 |
| 4.5 superb | "Tab" | February 28th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | hsb | February 16th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | fdrc | December 28th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | jmh886 | December 25th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | slaps | December 17th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Pheenix | October 15th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | cmil94 | August 21st 14 |
| 5.0 classic | hoox | May 26th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Amebix | May 22nd 14 |
| 5.0 classic | msm008 | April 13th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | xbogx | February 26th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Sithese | February 17th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | adr | December 17th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | YakNips | November 25th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | inlimbo | September 28th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | akimbo | September 18th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Cakey | July 25th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | SMUD | July 18th 13 |
| 3.5 great | tlhk | June 14th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | rien333 | June 12th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Caelum | May 13th 13 |
| 3.5 great | kb36 | January 22nd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | KotoFtw | December 24th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ecotone | December 23rd 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Scarch | December 21st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Melanin | October 9th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | shankeh | September 11th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Feels | July 13th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | iglu | May 18th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | AdamK | May 13th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Jamdbz | April 26th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | 9MgTar | April 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | waaagh | March 2nd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Thane | February 6th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Shukal | January 4th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Brumas | December 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | niobium | December 15th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Gene | December 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jerbz | November 12th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dday | November 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rev | November 7th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Saiko | November 4th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | BlueW | October 30th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Scoot | October 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Trebor. EMERITUS | September 30th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | JJwins | September 23rd 11 |
| 3.0 good | Rumulox | September 11th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Veldin | August 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Skoj | August 6th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Apollo | June 17th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Curse. | May 30th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Cavs | April 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Torii | March 18th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | davsoi | March 3rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | mcac2 | February 20th 11 |
| 2.5 average | frankie | December 26th 10 |
| 3.5 great | awf170 | November 28th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | jubilee | October 28th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | growl | October 28th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ben H | October 27th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Moddrum | October 20th 10 |
| 3.5 great | DayMan | August 8th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | ziimo | August 2nd 10 |
| 3.5 great | Ckubet | July 22nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Timon87 | July 21st 10 |
| 4.5 superb | lamy | June 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | vakuola | June 13th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Acre | April 19th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Enotron | April 19th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Mevz | April 6th 10 |
| 3.5 great | joshc | March 5th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Aids | February 9th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Luabind | February 4th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | cirq | January 12th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | DiceMan | November 27th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Looka | November 25th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Set | November 22nd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | mareep | October 19th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Ricven | October 17th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | qwe3 | September 21st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Maes | September 7th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Shpongle | September 1st 09 |
| 5.0 classic | danse | August 12th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Blimps | June 9th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Janson | June 8th 09 |
| 3.5 great | GBJ | May 23rd 09 |
| 5.0 classic | kitsch | May 5th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Spence | April 23rd 09 |
| 3.5 great | pettri | March 21st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | SomeDay | February 27th 09 |
| 3.5 great | slan | January 21st 09 |
| 3.5 great | Zorn | December 28th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | illmitch | December 24th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | WoodLawn | November 16th 08 |
| 3.5 great | disill | November 1st 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Chiral | October 25th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | JPAC | July 8th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | boon85 | May 10th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | pumi | March 26th 08 |
| 3.5 great | eof | March 9th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thyrm | March 7th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | thetod | March 5th 08 |
| 3.5 great | natey | February 24th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Robbert | January 31st 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Saetia | January 30th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Rabbi | January 30th 08 |
| 3.5 great | RJayZ | January 22nd 08 |
| 5.0 classic | TimmyK | December 31st 07 |
| 3.5 great | IsItLuck? EMERITUS | December 16th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | kalkal50 | November 12th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | JordanS | November 12th 07 |
| 2.0 poor | tuff | October 30th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | tuk | October 6th 07 |
| 5.0 classic | Scaggs | September 20th 07 |
| 3.0 good | tom79 | August 23rd 07 |
| |
Give Your Opinion on A Retrospective
|
