Search - Departure :: Dirty Words

Record Stands on it's own.

Jim Benny | drifter, somewhere in US | 01/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Why does everyone feel the need to give a brochure like description of The Departure. Oh, they sound like this group, or OOh i hear elements of this or that. Just about every modern band you come across is going to be almost re-hashing a style or arrangement. Everything has been done, so yeah "it sounds similar" to stuff you've heard. Anyway, on to the review.

The album is a fun, energetic, danceable listen. Dirty words is loaded with knifing guitar riffs dueling one another, silk-like thick base lines, catchy beats, and peppered symbols. The lyrics most certainly come across trite and lame. However, the lead singer has a tremendously thick british accent, and a good tone to his voice which in turn makes it a pleasure to hear. Just don't take them too seriously, although as mentioned before, they seem too. Like a lot of brit acts to the american ear, it takes maybe 2 or 3 spins. However, I'm almost certain the music will make you move from the get go."

Screw Franz Ferdinand's second album, get this!

Andru Aesthetik | Los Angeles, California USA | 06/29/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Essentially, The Departure sound like a combination of The Chameleons, early U2, & Gang Of Four with more reverb. This album also felt alot like what Franz Ferdinand's first album would have sounded like if all the guitars were put through huge reverb and delay effects. In that respect this is the album Franz Ferdinand wishes they had released in 05', but didn't. Lately, It seemed like every band was favoring disco over atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy me a good danceable groove, but there's a million bands doing that right now. I feel The Departure's strengths lie in their ability to create songs that are equally atmospheric AND angular, therefore danceable but with depth. I have also not heard such complimentary playing between two guitarists probably since Interpol's first album. With that in mind, Its somewhat annoying that this album hardly made a dent in the U.S. given that it was released before fellow UK post-punkers Editors released their album "The Back Room". This was close to being the best release of 2005 for me and wherever any other year-end "best of" lists have Franz Ferdinand's newest album, as I'm sure nearly every publication will have it in the top 10, I will just cut it out and put a picture of The Departure's "Dirty Words".



Records of Reference:

The Chameleons - Script Of The Bridge

U2 - Boy

Gang Of Four - Entertainment!

Au Pairs - Sense & Sensuality"