Search - Des Ark :: Loose Lips Sink Ships

What a fantastic record.

Ryan Smith | 03/19/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Loose Lips Sink Ships is the first fantastic record of the year. A good friend of mine gave me this record today with a bit of information that I will share with you. This group is comprised of two people: one girl on guitar and vocals (and she can sing/scream like hell as well as rip up the guitar) and one guy playing the drums. I guess he used to be in the stupid indie-rock band, Milemarker. They've had about 37 drummers, so it isn't a very lucrative claim. Des Ark, however, are not stupid. They're far from it. I'll liken it to a less accessible Metric with a bad attitude, no keyboard and more grit. There is no bass on the record, but it doesn't matter. The songs are anything but conventional, but I'm still going to say that they're catchy. No real structure, just a lot of killer parts mixed together in strange, unique musical collages. From what I understand, the live experience is something to behold. What a wonderful album, though. If you are remotely interested by my little description here, I hope that you will realize that this record is much better than I am making it out to be. It is wonderful. Please do this band a favor and support their cause: creating awesome songs that defy convention. You'll like it, I promise."

A Prickly Masterpiece...best album on Bifocal? hmmm...yes!

J. Holmes | yokohama, japan | 02/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"a fantastic two-piece band from North Carolina, Des_Ark stradles the line between heartfelt bluesy acoustic numbers and twisted angular miniature anthems of desperation. you might be thinking to yourself: "yea..that sounds like the description of all those other bands that go from loud to soft and back to loud again." but...no no no. you haven't heard anything like this, my friends. other bands may have the minute talent necessary to produce strong bits of songs that have a hook or two; but overall, those groups are faceless, and their music is usually nothing more than a drab, generic product...fit for rotting away on youir shelves.



Des_Ark, on the other hand comes across as an authentic candidate for one of the best bands that youi've never heard! when listening to Loose Links Sink Ships, i am reminded of groups like Silkworm, Built To Spill, or performers like PJ Harvey...whose songs are (basically) pop songs in their basest of nature; but have been laced with an angular sense of timing and a prickly heat that reveals a medicine box full of sinister little touches. you can hear it in Amy's guitar chords..sometimes sounding as if the notes were choked out of the instrument...they come out like mangled balls of copper wires and unfurl from her fingertips like spun thread. other times, the venom gets set aside, and we get a warm embrace from it's lover with blissfully sweet picking and tasteful bluesy folksy playing. the words and vocals reflect a desire to reach beyond the frame of the song and propel the listener to a languid and hazy vision that is raw in sentiment and at times...unnerving. but amidst all the blood, sweat, and fears...the twinkling of those heavenly chords always serves as a comfort if the listener begins to feel ...exposed to such a naked expression within these compositions. Tim's drumwork is notable for being so grounded and precise. nothing behind the kit feels overdone or overworked. it is as raw and meaningful as the songs will allow; working well within these sacred grounds.



the highlights of this disc are far too numerous to mention on by one. it is an album that must be heard in it's entire playing length to fully grasp it's power and heart. you will be moved when listening to this record. you may be a bit scared. and you might find yourself lost in it's maze of tangled brush and wire. but it's an album that will reach out and not let you go. you won't forget the music drifting and clawing from your speakers. and it only get better with repeated listens.



coupled with a stellar production job and a fantastic graphic design approach, Loose Lips Sinks Ships is an essential purchase! take my word for it...don't let this one pass this one by."

So Climb Aboard For A Pleasure Trip...

David Chris Dalton | Raleigh, NC United States | 05/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, so I'm biased. I'm labelmates with Des_Ark. My band covers, "Some Are Love." I think Aimee is just the cutest thing...



But that does NOT detract from the fact that this release kicks complete and total ass! PJ Harvery and Catpower, fronted by the Angus Young-fueled majesty of Ms. Argote.



Tim will kick your bottom with his mastery of the traps.



They will ensorcel you with their mathy-disonant-indie-rage, all within the context of the SONG.



I highly recommend seeing them LIVE to anyone that has the chance!"