Hope died a boredom-induced death three tracks in.
The Sound Explosion are an exciting live band. I know, I saw, I bore the brunt of tinnitus for three days. The Sound Explosion is a dull record. I know, I heard, I found myself scrambling for something, anything else to inject a little life into my lounge. Arab Strap? Fuck it, why not. Yeah, some tracks on this debut are worthy of a nonchalant swagger around your sitting room – ‘Looking At You’ has the live experience flooding back – but so much of this is so so what, y’know? It’s just so… so… meh.
Raucous cheap kicks and youthful high jinks await easily pleased ears here, but those wanting substance or, damnit, a little fucking soul are advised to keep the pennies safe for another’s wares.
The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
Live they are simply amazing. Smacked with raw youth fueled energy, they leap around, a true site to behold. And sound wise, well can anyone who has seen them live really say they were bored? I couldn’t stop tapping my toes when I first saw them live over a year ago! I dare anyone else to say different. This is what rock and roll is meant to be!
On CD they faithfully reproduce their electric live power and rawness. I’ve had this album on promo for a good 8 weeks now, and can confidently state that it is a fantastic debut! This cocky four piece are on the attack with wave after wave of guitar onslaught armed with their own blend of garage punk blues! This album hurtly towards you like an unstoppable juggernaut… my ears are still ringing!!!
They are destined for great things, just you wait and see Mr Diver! ;-)
The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
The Sound Explosion are AWESOME live and kick ass on CD too!
Re: The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
It's one of the best records to hit the shops this year... along with new albums from the Marmaduke Duke, Redjetson, The Arcade Fire, Antihero, Martha Wainwright, The Kills, Death From Above 1979, 50 Foot Wave, G.Love, Rufus Wainwright and so on...
And so see the live as soon as you can. Best live show I've seen this year
I think someone else at DiS HQ should review this album, possibly someone a little more open minded.
The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
www.roomthirteen.com/cgi-bin/cd_view.cgi?CDID=1011
Re: The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
Re: The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
Mr. Diver is not narrow-minded, and, having heard the record (but admittedly not having seen them live), I would say its a fair review. And anyway, if you disagree with it, thats YOUR opinion, just like this review is the REVIEWERS opinion.
FFS, I cant stand this pathetic whinging - not every1 thinks the sun shines out the sound explosions arse, and thank god.
keep up the good work Mr.Diver.
Re: The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
Like the guy above says, this review is simply my thoughts. Perhaps I'm forever expecting too much, but this album really failed to convey any of the excitement I felt when I saw these boys for the first time.
Yeah, it slithers and swaggers and rocks and rolls to an accomplished tee, but whatever doesn't? I wanted passion with this - being loud and shouting proud is fine, but nothing here made my ears tingle and my finger reach for 'repeat'.
I NEED that tingle, the feeling at the base of your neck when what's in your ears in fucking all-consumingly brilliant. I want the hair on my forearms to stand on end, and my ties to tap without any conscious forethought.
This... this is just too *meh*.
Soz.
M
Re: The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
If my ties could tap, that'd just be weird.
Re: The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
1) I'm not a "closed-minded band groupie" - I never have and never will be a groupie of any band/artist... but hey I am passionate about music and the music that I love... didn't realise that was a crime!
and if you look at all the music I like on my profile, I don't think anyone could call me close minded... I like every kind of music, from rock/indie/punk/metal to soul/jazz/blues/classical and so on...
2) I didn't put up four posts about how terrible the review was. After reading it, I posted twice - saying how I didn't agree with the review and that I thought it was a great album and so on. I then decided to check out some other online reviews of the album and posted links to them up here, so people could take a look at what other people think about the album... is that so wrong?
3) I did NOT call DiS closed minded, like I've already said, DiS is one of my favourite websites and now labels as well. I did write that I thought the reviewer wasn't very open-minded when it came to this record, but that was a rather harsh and was mainly down to the fact that I'd just read two 'very negative' reviews of this album (one in the NME and the one above) and I loved it. Although I expected such a review in the NME, i was shocked to see a negative review on DiS, but I do apologise Mr Driver, I know you're not closed-minded... but I do feel very passionate about this album and band.
Working in the music and media industry myself, I see great bands like this come and go all the time... so when I like something I speak up and hope that what I say encourages other people to have a look/listen themselves!
Peace
Funky Monkey
P.S. I actually quite like the idea of ties tapping, don't know if that makes me weird, but hey! it's better than beng 'so-called' normal isn't it?
Re: The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
I don't really follow Drowned in Sound reviewers religiously but they cover a fair amount of genre-ic ground with their reviews so to call them closed minded when it comes to music is a pretty hard statement to take seriously.
The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
The Sound Explosion - The Sound Explosion
Fair enough, if mr whatnot wasn't overly impressed by their record, just his opinion - no need to jump down his throat. that said some aspects I felt were a little harsh, but it is quite refreshing not to have reviewers who are trying clamber half way up the bands arse, or only give good reviews to what i like to call "the fashionable bands". For the record, i don't agree & think it's a wicked record - yep it's not a modern day classic, but it has rockin songs that i thought did their live act justice...to be honest if it was better listening to their record then watching them live i'm sure people would criticise that as well! the one thing i do think is a bit wrong is all this criticism/abuse this band get because they show some emotion on stage, having met & interviewed these guys, not only are they lovely guys but pretty quiet & down to earth as well. They're only teenagers for f"%k's sake! i think they should be applauded for enjoying themselves on stage!