“Take a long hard look at yourself, how did you end up here?” sings Simon Neil on ‘Folding Stars’, and you can almost hear the knives being drawn against them. Since the tail end of 2006 when everyone had their first taste of Puzzle through first single ‘semi-mental’, a fierce debate has raged over the status of Biffy Clyro, and depending on which post in which thread on which forum you read, their fourth album is either their greatest effort yet or a steaming turd of a record made by a bunch of sell-outs.
It's actually neither, although it’s closer to the former. It is a different approach to the previous three long-players though; a pop album, plain and simple, cutting back on the complicated stop-start song structures which have helped them earn their name, and with the screaming ferocity of some of their previous work removed to make way for big dumb chunks of rock. But this is not the sound of a different band altogether, merely the sound of Biffy Clyro simplified, the general feel retained but with a lot of the challenge removed - there's something almost predictable about a lot of Puzzle’s songs, with standard signatures where there might previously have been a few twists and turns.
It's all a little odd for a band who have always maintained an air of unpredictability, but where the songwriting has taken a step towards the simplistic the sound itself has become arena-sized. Opener 'Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies' begins with a building, spiralling wall of strings, falling away at their peak to leave just the chug of a single, picked guitar note before returning with pounding drums, initially staccato, stabbing at random like bolts of lightening before building up to a second crescendo that again falls away to make way for a sinister choral accompaniment until the vocals kick in.
It’s epic, massive and a little bit The Omen, and it’s a theme which pops up throughout the album. At the conclusion of a couple of the tracks lie two brief piano pieces, ‘2/15ths’ and ‘4/15ths’ – the former set over some faintly-sinister discordant backing noises, the latter twinkling and accompanied by gentle vocals – both leading up to ‘9/15ths’, a pounding, apocalyptic SOS which heralds the return of the choral section. The strings are back, too. Puzzle is the Biffy of old going a bit Muse, and it’s highly impressive.
Or is it Biffy doing campfire-singalong-slash-bed-wetting-indie stadium rock? Some of the songs here are so join-the-dots simple that they’re almost pale with malnourishment. Album closer ‘Machines’ is some inoffensive unplugged strumming whilst ‘The Conversation Is…’ meanwhile… well, we’ll get to that track in a minute. There are some rather naff group vocals in the chorus of ‘A Whole Child Ago’, and ditto for various points in ‘Who’s Got A Match’, which also wins the prize for Puzzle’s least impressive lyric: “The midget is frigid, I put it to you”? What. The. Funk.
There is one point where both old and new styles meet in a bout of sheer confusion. The aforementioned ‘The Conversation Is…’ begins twisting and turning in the verses, but when the easy-on-the-ear choruses hit a second line of vocals appear, gentle and a few octaves higher. It sounds like it was written for them by a particular stadium-rocking, Spiderman-soundtracking indie quintet, and whilst it’s the kind of thing that makes radio pluggers soil themselves with delight, it does sound a little uninspired after a while.
Yet despite the slightly schizophrenic approach, Puzzle remains an above average album, and whilst it might not sound as complete as Infinity Land - or as good as the other two Biffy long-players - it’ll work well as a crossover album despite its faults. Biffy Clyro have the potential to make a brilliant album full of super-accessible numbers, but this just isn’t it. Where and when Puzzle falls down it’s not because it’s a less taxing album than the others, but because some of the songs simply aren’t what they could be.
If Puzzle was more like its opening track and less like its last, I’d be joining the fanboys in proclaiming this the Best Thing Ever. Instead, I’m almost having to toss a coin to work out whether this review concludes with six little red numbers or seven.
Ultimately, your opinion of Puzzle will boil down to what you wanted from Biffy Clyro in the first place – if you bought their albums but only ever took to the singles, there's a good chance that you'll be as pleased with this as you were with the others. Yet if you appreciated them more for the sheer confusion generated by 'Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys', for their quirky song structures and raw power, this will seem a less fulfilling prospect.
Look for a brand-new feature on Biffy Clyro very, very soooooon!
Interesting.
I've not been grabbed by the singles that they've released off of this so far, but everyone seems to be praising this album and so I expected more than a 7 really.
Very good review.
But the album is 9.5/10 in my book. Sure, there are some MOR moments, but they're done to perfection.
I also love the fact that this will be their "crossover" album. While I loved the more complicated songs that you mentioned, they'll always be there, for when I want something a bit more challenging. But with this album, it's more about the lyrics than anything else.
But I wouldn't listen to be, I'm a self-confessed fanboy. I'd probably like Biffy Clyro if they did a Fratellis covers album....
me*
A fanboy writes...
...fair review. I haven't heard the album yet (because SOMEONE keeps putting the release date back just when I'm ready to pounce on the new material) but I think I will be expecting the unexpectingly expected. (!?!)
that's actually a quote
from the forthcoming interview
"expect the unexpected... which is the expected" - simon neil, may 2007
rumour has it..
that said Biffy feature will be ace
Nice one Ben
Good review, exactly what i thought about the lp. Although i would have thrown in more references to bland and the cringe factor. Still a 7, and great in places!
Yep, fair
personally I'm a big fan of it, but you're absotively right in your assertion that it's a bit stadium friendly in places.
However, "the midget is frigid, i put it to you" is solid gold!
Plus 'Who's Got A Match and A Whole Child Ago are excellent.
It's strange...
...I was listening to the Vertigo Of Bliss the other day and thinking that a few tracks of craziness works well, but a whole album of it is hard-going. I was struggling once I got past Eradicate The Doubt. I have a similar problem with Infinity Land actually - I get past Only One Thing Comes To Mind and I start to struggle.
It sounds like this album has perhaps gone too far the other way (I'm yet to hear anything but the singles), but I reckon they are still trying to find the perfect balance across an album - too much experimentation can detract from an album's soul, not enough can render it uninteresting. I guess given the lyrical content of Puzzle, the heart and soul had to be maintained and it's easier to do that with simpler structures and melodies.
The aforementioned Snow Patrol have churned out some ludicrously simple songs that anyone with two hands and access to a guitar could play, but songs like Open Your Eyes undeniably have soul. Musical and rhythmical complexity is not the be-all and end-all.
yeah i see your point
apart from with Eyes Open, i didnt actually hear any soul anywhere on the record, even in the two songs from it i like.. it was all just delivered so soppily that it actually detracted from the record.
i'm glad Biffy avoided the sparkly clean guitar sounds for this, i wouldve probably vomited.
hmmm,
just read the interview (and I've now got the album) and it's much as I expected. The lyrics were the priority and the music was shaped to fit that, which brought about the increased melody at the expense of some of the experimentation. There's no hidden agenda relating to record company interfering (other than, as they are bound to do, delaying its release to get some singles out there and build some anticipation), this is what Simon wanted to do.
Listening to it also confirms that your review hit the nail on the head in almost every respect; in fact, I couldn't decide between a 6 and a 7 either.
ha
way to counter collosal fan expectation and loyalty. by putting the release date back.
I was just listening to the new album when i visited youthmovies myspace. ores playing just made me lose interest in it entirely.
I truly hope...
that they don't choose Folding Stars as the next single.
rubbish
rubbish band, rubbish songs, horrible voice and a shit name. they look shit as well (yes that matters).
^
moron
...
why am i a moron? because i don't agree with you? i could talk at length at why i don't like the band, use big words, impress you all with my syntax and pretend i'm a music journalist, but they don't interest me enough.
i think its
probably because you did the whole "appearance matters" thing.
"They look shit as well (yes that matters)"
I despair, I truly do.
.
This coming from someone who likes Oasis.
LOL. 'Nuff said.
I'd say
that this argument is about as well constructed as Thom Yorke's teeth or one of Kurt Cobain's flea-bitten cardigans. Dammit, why DID anyone buy records made by someone who wore cardies with holes in? Damn these people who use their ears to judge music, damn them all to hell!!!
your email
mongoloid
I'm pretty certain they have chosen Folding Stars as the next single...
...Edith Bowman was playing it on Radio 1 the other day.
Oh, and nice review Ben. Very Fair.
wut? a whole day passed and no fanboy backlash?
did i do something wrong? :(
where is..
domgourlay? I demand to read his obligatory shitheap of stream-of-consciousness turgidity about how gash everyone's favourite band..oh that clever cynical bastard. I demand it. RIGHT NOW!
I'm here.
And I think anyone who's interested knows which side of the fence I stand on the importance of Biffy, so I'm not going to spoil the love-in here by ramming it down everyone's throat!
haha
Dom you love them almost as much as you love Hot Club De Paris..
Well they're both
trib.... nah, I won't say it!
tribasic?
do they have three replaceable hydrogen atoms?
You took the words
right outta my mouth as some fat bloke once said.
thanks dom..
I thought the world was about to implode due to your abscence on this thread. I feel better again, thanks for restoring the balance of the universe.
Tis OK
Imbalance is no more.
It just
says something about how non-committal this review it
hmmmmm
our survey says
X
fair review
I'm a massive Biffy fan and I think this review is pretty much spot on, good stuff.
I'd be surprised if Folding Stars is the next single as Simon Neil has said they'd probably never even play it live as it's a bit too personal but they do work for Sony now so I guess what they say goes.
It is slightly annoying that I've tried to make my friends give Biffy a listen for years with little response and now they are hearing them on the radio and don't like what they are hearing my protestations of 'listen to the older stuff, you'll like it!' make me sound like a typical 'they used to be better' indie snob.
Ho-Hum. I still think it's a good album though.
lolol
they call that Snow Patrol Syndrome
fair review
i find it frustrating though that now they are being so overhyped, and yet criminally ignored when they released their debut which is far better than the singles from the new album that i've heard!
i am interested in hearing the new album in full, but i feel that i'll be underwhelmed because of the over hype.
Why
do bands have to dumb down their sound when they want more people to listen to their music.
After hearing the radio rip of living is a problem I was really expecting big things from this album, i was disappointed.
Radio 1 syndrome strikes again.
I think they should make
As Dust Dances the next single. I really do. It's just as moving as Folding Stars, and much better musically. I could see it being a big hit.
Transmissions right
on all accounts.
Just watched their latest offering on MTV2. Shocking.
How can you lot take them serious?
Yes..
and I used to think Blur were some overhyped Britpop sensation on par with Gallaghers, after song 2 subliminally imprinted itself on my poor adolescent brain. Thanks Mtv/commercial daytime radio!
Exactly 2 years ago..I listened to the entirity of Parklife with a slightly more refined sense of hearing, and came to realise that I was in fact an utter ****.
I very much doubt
Ill ever change my opinion of Biffy Clyro.
me neither...
i am goin to see them tonight in the barralands tearing the place up probably
... i fuckin love this band man... cant wait
cs009d4735
I dont think yo understood
my point. You might not change your opinion. However, founding one upon the basis of ONE shitty video you happen to catch on some godawful music channel doesnt make much sense does it?
It's like me saying.."you made one shit point, therefore your family must consist of equally dumb f****".
9/15th's
what is he actually singing hill, hell, or hail slide?
i can't decide
hell
how would the others make sense?!
Christ.
No, it's "kindergarten slide"
spot on review btw
I do understand your point
BUT anyone capable of making such tripe (the song) dont deserve a second chance imo.
And that family analogy was piss poor btw.
well I suppose..
anyone who makes such a shockingly poor condemnation of a band does not deserve a second chance either. Any further points you raise (no matter how valid) as of now will be rendered completely worthless. I look forward to not hearing from you.
potd ^
..
This is a good review, well done. Thank god they didn't get Dom GourLOL to write it because that would have resulted in me leaving DiS forever. For a while.
It's a good album, but the sad truth is that it's way overproduced. I don't know if it's just a coincidence that that coincides with the major label debut malarky, but I suspect not. Where the hell has the rawness gone? There's no Jaggy Snake or Ribcage or Burn The Action, and it could have done with a couple in. Get Fucked Stud is probably the best track, but I need some more listens. If anything it is at least interesting, and I think it'll be a grower... 7/10 from me too.
That's what I thought too
If I wrote this review and wound fanboy Loque up again he'd do us all a favour and vacate the room, but then who else would be left to wind up, eh?
There was a great song...
..on the studio preview thing that I saw on their myspace (now at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MYv0FvH9Ww) that's not on Puzzle. Methinks I'll buy the vinyl of 'Living is a Problem...' which appears to have 3 new songs. Hopefully it's one of them.
And what happenned Asexual Meat Kitchen? Great song. Was looking forward to a proper version of that. Future BSide maybe?
PS - Excellent review, btw. Agree with it for the most part having now heard the album. I like it, but for me, there's just a lot of things I love about Biffy Clyro that seem to be missing from this one...
they
used to have it all - they've committed to record some seriously interesting and progressive sounds. To then hear some of the tat from this album on the radio makes me sad. Obviously a band with serious musicianship who perhaps have lost their way a bit.
I hope that they can reach the potential they have shown previously
I reckon
that Who's Got A Match is brilliant.
But this album has issues.
This is a case of another free spirit killed off by Sony.
I fucking hate Sony.
you may well do
but they're on 14th Floor, which is part of the Warners group.
Yes.
Touché.
it is
a very commercial sounding record but at the same time it is very good. Weather they intended to or not they have made a major labels dream record. short catchy songs that get to the hook fast. As lame as that may sound it is a very good album. Lets see if I am still rinsing it as much as I have been rinsing Year Zero. Some how I doubt it, but we will see.
Get Fucked Stud
is the highlight quite frankly - anyone got a match should be the 'festival single', and I like most of the other tracks too.
Biffy albums are always great, but I do seem to end up playing all their songs on shuffle so that I get a mix of all the Eras at the same time.
kak
Ignore all reviews, nobody is objective enough to advise you on these things-we are all big and ugly enough to decide for ourselves....listen to what you can, then buy it and keep your opinions to your friends
Ps Ignore every review in Kerrang particularly
x
fair review
i am a bit of a fan boy (other such individuals could tell from my username...) and i do think that the album easily lived up to my expectations but you made some really valid points...but as it's been said, this album does focus more on the lyrical content and considering the theme of the album, it adds more depth and character without turning it into an emo pot of winge.
so overall, good call....and who cares what they look like?!
My 'Puzzle' Review
Probably one of the most well anticipated albums this year (Up there with the likes of Jamie T, Arctic Monkeys, and regardless to whether the album is good or not, this build up for Biffy Clyro's album will result in to consumers thinking it's brilliant no matter how bad/good it is.
I feel the albums structure and track order is brilliantly ordered, with 2 of Biffys popular singles 'Living is a Problem...' and 'Saturday Superhouse' introducing us to the album brilliantly, moving us on to new tunes that stand out as good as their singles (Track 4-7 especially at this point) taking us to the bands song representitive in my opinion, 'Semi-Mental', a cracking song and a song that even though you here on the radio and on mtv2, kerrang and scuzz every day of your life....never gets boring, and is always as exciting as the first time you hear it (a good place ment as well, track number 8 to maybe keep consumers satisfied with songs they have heard before.)
The album then comes to a near conclusion, as we encounter maybe more melodic stlyed songs by the 'Scottish Sensation', as songs 'Love Has A Diameter', 'Folding Stars' and 'Machines' I predict to be the sing along songs of this years upcoming festivals, as leading man, Simon Neil belts out these crooning lyrics if you like, that can be well related to by fans, I am sure. Not forgetting another popular song 'Get F****d Stud' being the track in between these more melodic Biffy Clyro tunes, really contrasting well I feel.
In conclusion though, it has to be said the Ayrshire boys have done it, they have released something that has lived up to its words, and have created this fan base of which they are very appreciated for what they have created. A goo dmix of songs, the singles are no different to the rest of the albums material really (for me a good thing), and the maturity of the band from 'Infinity Land' is very blatent in the album, again a good thing, as they are now seen as a must see british band and one of the new found, admired musical talents.
Rating
A Definate 9/10 for the Ayrshire lads, brilliant work and have lived up to the expectations well.
Hmm.
I disagree, but well put forward. Please read my review in the user reviews section..
I
adored this album immediately. Stadium rock at parts, yes, but why does that have to be a bad thing?