Astropop3
Allies and Stepping Stones (CD)
 When I’m about to hear a record by a band, I might get an idea of how the record will go by considering the name of the band. That way, you can tell how witty their choice of words are and what kind of images and ideas they might be able to invoke. If a band name is catchy enough, I might just pick up the record and flip it over and expect to see a list of songs that have interesting titles. And I might just want to buy it so I can hear them out.
Be moved. And keep it on constant rotation.
Right now, I have the AstroPop3 CD in my player. AstroPop3 is a decent name. I might have a little problem with the band naming themselves with their chosen genre. That being “pop.” Not very subtle. But it’s a sweet enough name that I’d give it a try. So let’s move on.
The record opens with “Forget Tomorrow.” The song itself opens a time warp that brings me back to 1996. The vocals are buried in the mix. The guitars are slightly fuzzy and a whole lot of jangly. There’s a bit of a jamming dynamic at the end. This is indie-rock, by and large. This feels like Versus crossed with Rocketship sprinkled with hints of Teenage Fanclub. Next up is “Cubicles,” which takes the Versus reference even further. It has a minor key melody with 4AD like atmospherics. The song laments the pointlessness of office jobs and trying to make it in a band. Afterwards, the record takes on familiar sentiments with songs such as “Nothing Without You,” “Fade On Your Own,” and “Anything.” The songs themselves sound good. They’re well produced. They’re well performed. They have nice dynamics. Everything works fine. But on the other hand, it doesn’t.
The lyrics to the songs are all right. Simple images. Rhyming couplets. But the words feel artless. The poetics are as subtle as a brick. And the result feels like poetry for the High School Literary Journal. You’d think for a band with a sound that is so familiar, they might try writing words that could bring them to the realm of interesting. Or perhaps, try delivering them in an interesting manner. But for now, their music is sweetly pleasing. It’s all well done but nothing sticks. Instead you reach for that Versus record with the awkward songwriting where Richard Baluyut sings about a “failed apartment” and his girlfriend who is the “blowjob queen.” That requires repeated listening for it to come together.
This just feels a little tired.
- review by KEVIN POWERS (1.24.05)
Planting Seeds Records
Planting Seeds Records
P.O. BOX 64665
Virginia Beach, VA 23467
band@astropop3.com
www.astropop3.com
|
25 Random Reviews
6.17.04 Some By Sea
2.26.04 Keith John Adams
5.11.04 London Apartments
8.9.05 So L'il
6.12.04 Jad Fair and Jason Willett
6.16.03 Grandaddy
10.16.04 Girls In My Pocket
11.2.03 Owen
3.16.05 The Rep
3.11.04 East River Pipe
8.15.03 The 32-Bit Handhelds
9.2.04 The Capstan Shafts
3.26.05 The Drop Scene
1.15.05 Swedish Death Polka
3.1.05 Jennifer Gentle
2.14.06 La Rocca
8.1.05 Kinski
7.1.03 Teeny Grownups
11.28.04 Apple Orchard
8.5.04 Art Damaged
2.19.04 Chelsea's Corner
7.19.04 Avenue D
11.26.04 Brandon Wiard
4.27.03 3ColorNegative
6.1.04 Lost on Purpose
|
