Dead Cities
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 11:55 pm
This is a biased post. And many might disagree. Which is fine!
I feel that this album is the pinnacle, the progression, of FSOL. They have maybe felt the need to disown it and make a 'feminine' album like The Isness (which I think is not that great), and that's fine, too. My reaction is that this album fits me better than the others. The reasons being, it showcases their strengths better than the others do, due to VARIETY. Sure, it's a dark album as a whole. But you'll find every example of what makes them excellent from track to track. Ambiance, aggression, etc...it all hangs out on this album. I do love Lifeforms, but I find it monochromatic. Dead Cities has less repetition and more excitement and more VARIETY. Track to track, it all flows together but it still has surprises. The other albums were the bridge; the transition. This is the one they were meant to do. They change things up. Not content to just loop something 4/4 and slap some samples on top the entire time. How weird is it that they chose "Herd Killing" to open the album? That's an abrasive choice, and I love it. Guitars, disco, Run DMC - it works. And the most beautiful song they ever wrote, with the best drum beat they ever used, My Kingdom. And they will use heavy metal, spooked out Vangelis samples, disco, piano, smooth jazz, drum and bass...to me it's the one that is the freshest and stands the test of time the most amongst their discography. My only complaint is that they could have chosen a far better single than "We Have Explosive". I don't hate the track, but hardly the best one on the album.
Okay, I'm quite drunk.
I feel that this album is the pinnacle, the progression, of FSOL. They have maybe felt the need to disown it and make a 'feminine' album like The Isness (which I think is not that great), and that's fine, too. My reaction is that this album fits me better than the others. The reasons being, it showcases their strengths better than the others do, due to VARIETY. Sure, it's a dark album as a whole. But you'll find every example of what makes them excellent from track to track. Ambiance, aggression, etc...it all hangs out on this album. I do love Lifeforms, but I find it monochromatic. Dead Cities has less repetition and more excitement and more VARIETY. Track to track, it all flows together but it still has surprises. The other albums were the bridge; the transition. This is the one they were meant to do. They change things up. Not content to just loop something 4/4 and slap some samples on top the entire time. How weird is it that they chose "Herd Killing" to open the album? That's an abrasive choice, and I love it. Guitars, disco, Run DMC - it works. And the most beautiful song they ever wrote, with the best drum beat they ever used, My Kingdom. And they will use heavy metal, spooked out Vangelis samples, disco, piano, smooth jazz, drum and bass...to me it's the one that is the freshest and stands the test of time the most amongst their discography. My only complaint is that they could have chosen a far better single than "We Have Explosive". I don't hate the track, but hardly the best one on the album.
Okay, I'm quite drunk.