CD Reviews

Thom Yorke
The Eraser
XL Recordings/ 2006
♥♥♥♥

Ajitpaul Mangat

Those expecting something different from Thom Yorke, on his debut solo album, than what we’ve heard on any post-1997 Radiohead album will be sorely disappointed. In fact, The Eraser adds credence to the belief it was Thom Yorke who pushed Radiohead towards the experimental, predominantly electronic musical landscape heard on Kid A and Amnesiac. The Eraser’s likeness to those albums is not a bad thing, with its jittery beats and splashes of synthesizer creating many gorgeous musical textures, however, without the added dimension of the other members of Radiohead, some of The Eraser’s tracks feel more static and inert than they should. The songs “The Clock” and “Skip Divided” are most guilty as they lack any traces of melody or liveliness causing them to be instantly forgettable.

The highlights of the album musically are Thom Yorke’s always-unique vocals and his increasingly sophisticated lyrics; Thom’s ability to introspect has grown by leaps and bounds since Pablo Honey. As a result, the standout tracks on the album are those that allow his vocals to soar and give his lyrics the proper musical platform on which to be heard. The best example of this is “The Eraser” over subdued pianos and contrastingly erratic electronic sounds Thom cries, “The more you try to erase me . . . the more that I appear.” Also excellent is “Black Swan,” which contains Thom’s heaviest lyrics (“You have tried your best to please everyone/But it just isn’t happening/No, it just isn’t happening/and it’s fucked up, fucked up”) and the album’s most accessible music. The other standout tracks include “And It Rained All Night,” which paints an ominous picture of a flooded New York and the beautiful “Harrowdown Hill,” inspired by British weapons-expert David Kelly’s suicide (“Don’t walk the plank like I did/You will be dispensed with/when you’ve become inconvenient”).

She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge
Geffen Records/ 2006
♥♥♥

Brendan Cathcart

Okay, so the opening of this review is going to come off more favourably for She Wants Revenge than I had planned. This is partly because I’m writing this after listen number five or six, and partly because of the police siren that passed by my building during the first thirty seconds. The music sounds like night in New York City, atmospheric and full of dangerous possibility. And sexiness. Justin Warfield and Adam 12 write new-wave ’80s songs about the incessant problem of sharp blades hidden in women’s panties.

Repeated listens, police sirens and dangerous panties aside, I’m reticent to acclaim this band any further. It would literally be redundant of me to mention all the arrogant statements made by this “groundbreaking” and “inventive” “legions of samey-sameson throwback bands” in their website bio. Sorry, I misquoted: apparently it’s She Wants Revenge that is not part of those legions. I’m glad that’s cleared up.

The music is growing on me and it’s got energy and tension, but I think that might not be enough for a band that is trying to convince listeners that Joy Division or Interpol never played those same simple but tense chords, with tight beat structures and strangely vibrato monotone vocals. Joy Division did it first and intense. Interpol did it rhythmic and layered. I’m not sure where She Wants Revenge figures in. They are trying to do it in all the abovementioned ways but the music is simpler, slightly darker, very similar, and less interesting.

The Elected
Sun, Sun, Sun
Sub Pop/ 2006
♥♥♥♥

Cory Andersonw

The second album from the Elected glimmers full of sweet tropical melodies that are best heard while basking in the sun on a hot summer day. The track “Did Me Good” is a throwback to the typical 1950s summer romance film depicting adolescent lovers trying to find a way to be with each other, yet trying to find themselves in the process. Each track is evocative of both the time and place it was recorded, whether it be a sunny day sailing across the seas, or laying underneath the dark and gloomy clouds after a painful break-up.

The Elected are not afraid of experimentation, as they compose heart-wrenching tunes, big band-era jives and even include harmonica and ukulele in their music. A country-western flair is featured on “The Bank and Trust,” which was likely inspired by the country/folk themed Rilo Kiley, lead singer Blake Sennett’s other band. Also, “Biggest Star” features a loud and roaring guitar solo with a blaring drumbeat, a stark contrast to the previous track, the winsome and melodic “Beautiful Rainbow.” This is the perfect soundtrack for sunbathing on the beach or letting the gentle wind blow through your hair as you cruise through the city with the car windows rolled down.





Volume 94 Issue 2	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	July 19, 2006

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly CD Reviews Thom Yorke The Eraser XL Recordings/ 2006 ♥♥♥♥ Ajitpaul Mangat Those expecting something different from Thom Yorke, on his debut solo album, than what we’ve heard on any post-1997 Radiohead album will be sorely disappointed. In fact, The Eraser adds credence to the belief it was Thom Yorke who pushed Radiohead towards the experimental, predominantly electronic musical landscape heard on Kid A and Amnesiac. The Eraser’s likeness to those albums is not a bad thing, with its jittery beats and splashes of synthesizer creating many gorgeous musical textures, however, without the added dimension of the other members of Radiohead, some of The Eraser’s tracks feel more static and inert than they should. The songs “The Clock” and “Skip Divided” are most guilty as they lack any traces of melody or liveliness causing them to be instantly forgettable. The highlights of the album musically are Thom Yorke’s always-unique vocals and his increasingly sophisticated lyrics; Thom’s ability to introspect has grown by leaps and bounds since Pablo Honey. As a result, the standout tracks on the album are those that allow his vocals to soar and give his lyrics the proper musical platform on which to be heard. The best example of this is “The Eraser” over subdued pianos and contrastingly erratic electronic sounds Thom cries, “The more you try to erase me . . . the more that I appear.” Also excellent is “Black Swan,” which contains Thom’s heaviest lyrics (“You have tried your best to please everyone/But it just isn’t happening/No, it just isn’t happening/and it’s fucked up, fucked up”) and the album’s most accessible music. The other standout tracks include “And It Rained All Night,” which paints an ominous picture of a flooded New York and the beautiful “Harrowdown Hill,” inspired by British weapons-expert David Kelly’s suicide (“Don’t walk the plank like I did/You will be dispensed with/when you’ve become inconvenient”). She Wants Revenge She Wants Revenge Geffen Records/ 2006 ♥♥♥ Brendan Cathcart Okay, so the opening of this review is going to come off more favourably for She Wants Revenge than I had planned. This is partly because I’m writing this after listen number five or six, and partly because of the police siren that passed by my building during the first thirty seconds. The music sounds like night in New York City, atmospheric and full of dangerous possibility. And sexiness. Justin Warfield and Adam 12 write new-wave ’80s songs about the incessant problem of sharp blades hidden in women’s panties. Repeated listens, police sirens and dangerous panties aside, I’m reticent to acclaim this band any further. It would literally be redundant of me to mention all the arrogant statements made by this “groundbreaking” and “inventive” “legions of samey-sameson throwback bands” in their website bio. Sorry, I misquoted: apparently it’s She Wants Revenge that is not part of those legions. I’m glad that’s cleared up. The music is growing on me and it’s got energy and tension, but I think that might not be enough for a band that is trying to convince listeners that Joy Division or Interpol never played those same simple but tense chords, with tight beat structures and strangely vibrato monotone vocals. Joy Division did it first and intense. Interpol did it rhythmic and layered. I’m not sure where She Wants Revenge figures in. They are trying to do it in all the abovementioned ways but the music is simpler, slightly darker, very similar, and less interesting. The Elected Sun, Sun, Sun Sub Pop/ 2006 ♥♥♥♥ Cory Andersonw The second album from the Elected glimmers full of sweet tropical melodies that are best heard while basking in the sun on a hot summer day. The track “Did Me Good” is a throwback to the typical 1950s summer romance film depicting adolescent lovers trying to find a way to be with each other, yet trying to find themselves in the process. Each track is evocative of both the time and place it was recorded, whether it be a sunny day sailing across the seas, or laying underneath the dark and gloomy clouds after a painful break-up. The Elected are not afraid of experimentation, as they compose heart-wrenching tunes, big band-era jives and even include harmonica and ukulele in their music. A country-western flair is featured on “The Bank and Trust,” which was likely inspired by the country/folk themed Rilo Kiley, lead singer Blake Sennett’s other band. Also, “Biggest Star” features a loud and roaring guitar solo with a blaring drumbeat, a stark contrast to the previous track, the winsome and melodic “Beautiful Rainbow.” This is the perfect soundtrack for sunbathing on the beach or letting the gentle wind blow through your hair as you cruise through the city with the car windows rolled down.


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