And those two words stay in the mind throughout. Don’t gnash your teeth just yet, though, as the album is saved by the single ‘In The Shadows’, or more specifically the riff it employs and the “uh-oh uh-oh” refrain that is added liberally into the song’s structure. Although not the ceaselessly infectious tune that the accompanying press release would like you to think it is, it’s still the most consciously insistent use of “uhs” and “ohs” since Beyonce did her thang on ‘Crazy In Love’ (only not as good), and feels like a relief even after only one track. Admittedly there are some other appealing moments present, such as the way that ‘In My Life’ and ‘Back In The Picture’ try to quicken the pace by bordering on the emo, and the five seconds of ‘Time To Burn’ that sound like Black Sabbath before the harmonies and key changes bring an altogether more ‘Hair Metal’ feel.
But a large quantity of the album is all too predictable in its dire nature, ranging from what sounds like a high-pitched Nickelback to a half-arsed Lostprophets. Even the lyrical content is painful for all the wrong reasons – for example the chorus in Linkin Park-lite track ‘Guilty’: “Guilty / Woah / I feel so empty / Woah / Empty”, which just about sums up the sort of ‘pain’ they want you to feel them expressing. Even closing track ‘Funeral Song’ threatens to become a piss-take of Limp Bizkit’s ‘Behind Blue Eyes’ but, sadly, doesn’t.
Nice try then, lads, but I assume the rock’s too diluted to excite many beyond the daytime FM playlist lovers. Needless to say, they’ll be huge.
The Rasmus - Dead Letters
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that was uncalled for.
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THE RASMUS
‘Dead Letters’
If Mike Tramp went ‘Nu-Breed’ this is what it might sound like! THE RASMUS are from Finland and this their sixth album, has been troubling charts in Scandinavia/Europe for much of 2003. With a UK release of the album and European hit single ‘In The Shadows’ imminent their global assault looks set to continue.
‘In The Shadows’ itself is a glorious pop/rock song in the INVERTIGO mould, but truth is, from the opening of lead track ‘First day of My Life’ there are some clear classic rock/AOR influences lurking here. ‘Guilty’ is an uptempo almost ‘AOR by numbers’ rocker with its verse, bridge, and tell tale “woah oh” chorus. All that’s missing is the key change! I defy you to not sing along though! It’s a similar story with ‘In My Life’. Then there’s the ballad ‘Not Like The Other Girls’ with it’s JOURNEYish intro and harmonised lead guitars solo, or ‘Back In The Picture’ where THE RASMUS pick up the pace again blurring the line between rock and pop in much the same way as THIN LIZZY did. And it’s this that could well turn out to be their strength and the key to their success. At times singer Laun’s voice is spookily similar to Mike Tramp. Maybe it’s just in the accent. Whatever, it’s a voice that gives the music that commercial edge and all-important crossover appeal
If classic AOR was a Bacardi and coke, THE RASMUS would be the twist of lemon to liven it up and give it a new zing! Coming soon to a radio/TV/venue near you. Best not to fight it!
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'Describing' what the songs sound like, in order to let others form an opinion on whether the album sounds like something they might like to give more of their own attention, is more important. Your (or my, for that matter) 'opinion' of what the music sounds like counts for fuck all.
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for instance i thought that The Rasmus sounded like Linkin-Lite, somebody else thought it sounded like a second-rate version of HIM, somebody else thought it sounded like decent goth rock ...they're all description but highly opinionated.
and i know my opinion counts for fuck all, but the best way of deciding whether or not you should pay more attention to a certain band is by hearing some of their music. Surely.......?
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Agreed! But just how many people do you think will be encouraged to give the band a fair listen after reading....
"But a large quantity of the album is all too predictable in its dire nature, ranging from what sounds like a high-pitched Nickelback to a half-arsed Lostprophets. Even the lyrical content is painful for all the wrong reasons – for example the chorus in Linkin Park-lite track ‘Guilty’: “Guilty / Woah / I feel so empty / Woah / Empty”, which just about sums up the sort of ‘pain’ they want you to feel them expressing. Even closing track ‘Funeral Song’ threatens to become a piss-take of Limp Bizkit’s ‘Behind Blue Eyes’ but, sadly, doesn’t."
Huh?
Still, as I said before, I wouldn't really expect The Rasmus to appeal to that many DiS readers.
SOPHIA is a band that they should check out tho.
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they'll hear the songs on heavy radio/TV rotation
they'll hear it from enthusiastic goth mates
they'll read other reviews
they'll download it for nowt
they'll decide to ignore my ranting and judge things for themselves
by the way, do you like this band? fair play if you don't, respect either way...
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maybe their first five LPs sounded like The Darkness. Or Black Lace. Or Alec Empire. Or a combination of all three.
argh...
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you're taking the piss, right?
'go away Rasmus haters'
are you, like, 11? nobody actually talks like that.
then again, it's not the rasmus's fault they wouldn't know quality songwriting even if they studied a back catalogue of Radiohead for the rest of their life
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You really think RadioHead has quality song-writing??? My god!!! RadioHead my arse! I feel like smashing a bloody radio into their heads....
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---here's to the extermination of nouveaux fans!
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if u think dead letters is shit(even though im a massive fan)u should really here funky jam thats on their 1st album now that is stale but get the lyrics their good once u actually hear the lyrics with the song!!
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My sister is a big HIM fan so naturally shes into this finnish rock scene and told me about the Rasmus saying that they were a little lighter than HIM.
She lent me the album and I loved it from the second I heard 'First Day of My Life' Admittedly I have to say its got that catchy pop vibe with 'Back in the Picture' but who doesnt like a lift somewhere in an album?!
I would recommend it to anyone who I thought would like it.
For some it would be an aquired taste but once you like them, you love them!
Lauri, the singer has a very unique voice, soft and husky at the same time (so hard to describe)
My verdict - A truly talented band set to inevitably crack the UK *****
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x
gen
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Worst album of the year so far? Nah, second worst after Easyworld.
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I understand that you may not agree with The Rasmus being great or something but it's true. Why would these rock legends work with The Rasmus during tours if they were such shite?
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and surely wanting to look like Robert Smith counts as trying to be "cool"?
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Good review, though. Not that I was even tempted to buy it anyway.
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oh, thank you.
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They are The Rasmus and the sound like The Rasmus (SHOCK!)
personally i have the album and i love it.
theyre oviously good if they have been on tour with the red hot chilli peppers and HIM to name but two.
If u dont like it its ur opinion and thats ok. but i recon that it sounds like the reviewer judged it b4 he had listened to it.
oh and saying that you hope that the band all die is just taking it too far. just because ur not a fan of their music.
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I know that not EVERYONE can like The Rasmus but there's no point in everyone dissing them!
And they've all got talent - certainly! They deserve every emma they awarded with.
By the way, I freakin' LOVE The Cult especially their 'Love' album. Anybody know who i'm on about???
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Celeste
ps- The Killers ROCK !:?)
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Celeste
ps- The Killers ROCK !:?)
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i thought that them being bottled at Reading was harsh, though...
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