Prepare to be pleasantly surprised...
M J Heilbron Jr. | Long Beach, CA United States | 04/30/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I haven't been so pleasantly blown away by an unfamiliar rock band's first foray into albumhood since Gin Blossoms' breakout album almost a decade ago.
When was the last time you instantly loved an album? Especially one you weren't expecting! Seriously, when U2 comes out with one, and you're a U2 fan...the odd's are pretty good, if you know what I'm saying.
But...the Androids? Curiosity factor alone...look at that title, "Do It With Madonna"...warrants a casual listen, but I haven't heard simple, clean pop hooks like this in ages. The album opener, "Hey You!" gets things off to a brisk gallop, and proceeds with surprisingly irresistible melodies, great beats, nifty power chords, soaring choruses...wow.
This is great rock/pop music. Remember that? Real songs? Well sung? Well played? No screaming, no bludgeoning aural assaults, no angst, no scratching...
Full of refreshing personality with crisp sonics.
Yup, I like this one a lot."
A nice listen
E. A Solinas | MD USA | 01/21/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Australian pop-punk group the Androids's self-titled debut is a solid listen for fans of punk-pop or straightforward rock. While the group doesn't seem entirely secure in their musical niche, they have plenty of promise for the future, with nicely written songs and a good sense of humor.The mischievous "Do It With Madonna" is the highlight of the album, with its slyly thoughtful references to Madonna, Pink, Britney, Christina and Kylie and how attractive (or not) they are. "Hey You" is an ode to rejection by the opposite sex, while "Cynical" is an endearingly snarly punk song ("Help me get my head into/The way the world has weakened you"). Other songs tap into more girl angst ("She's An Alien"), boredom ("Bored" -- duh!), and mockery of people pretending to be other than what they are ("Wannabe")."Androids" is a good listen. Not a great one, but a pleasant one. The band is clearly still getting its footing in this debut, since its pop-punk sound is a little unsure and unfocused -- is it punkier? Poppier? It flipflops between both, and the Androids can clearly hold their own in the perilous punk-rock territory. "Let Me Down" is clearly pop, while "Cynical" roars and sears, both in its blasting music and its lyrics.The biggest weakness is Tim Henwood's vocals. While his voice holds its own in songs like "Wannabe" and "Do It With Madonna," the opening couple of songs show that he can be rather nasal. The lyrics are solid, though not exceptional, and show both a serious side and an ability to be funny and satirical. "I wonder if I could get Kylie/To want to do it with Madonna" sings Henwood, and you can almost hear the naughty grin behind it.It will be interesting to see what the Aussie rocker Androids do from here on. While their debut is not overwhelmingly good, it shows that they have talent and can go far with what they have. Worth checking out."
GENIUS POWER POP! JELLYFISH ON STEROIDS!
k.g.lee | New York, NY USA | 10/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I had the truly great fortune of seeing these guys open for KISS when the masked foursome recorded ALIVE IV w/ the Melbourne Symphony in 2003. As cool as it was to see KISS in that great country (Australia), the true excitement of that journey was best captured in the agressive power pop energy of the Androids album for me.
Never mind the novelty of the Madonna song (catchy yes, but in the states we are over her!); I challenge anyone to play the Androids song "Here She Comes" back to back with any Jellyfish of Knack song of high regard, and tell me it isn't as good as either of those legendary purveyors of power pop. Truly great stuff. Absolutely infectious.
Also check out the whistful but addictive maturity of "Brand New Life". I can't say enough about the rarely matched strength of the songwriting, performance, and production here. A shame the band perhaps has been lost to the poser punk movement. Such narrow terms defy their skills.
I don't know if this band is still active, but I look truly
forward to more. In any case, don't hesitate to start here! A lost gem that keeps giving!"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1