Search - Division of Laura Lee :: Das Not Compute

Sneaking Up On A Great, Underrated New Rock Album

Diane Aguilar | San Antonio, TX USA | 01/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Division of Laura Lee's _Das Not Compute_ is a stellar New Rock album, a captivating amalgam of punk, garage rock, shoegaze, classic goth rock, and revivalist psychedelic rock. It achieves quietly what fellow Swedes The Hives have unsuccessfully attempted in full view of a raputurous criticial audience -- that is, a sort of controlled musical chaos, a dance between the animal and the civilized. That Division of Laura Lee are still struggling while The Hives get mentioned in literally every issue of Spin magazine is an example of how The Mass Public can and do get their musical choices horribly wrong.



"Does Compute" is a passionate rave-up, an exercise in operatic three-chord harmony. Psych-rock "We Are Numbers" builds upon its intensity subtly and patiently until it reaches its climactic chorus. "Loveless" is a grinding, futuristic tribute to band favorite My Bloody Valentine. The quietly bitter "Sneaking Up on Mr. Prez" aims its angry arrows at the world of politics and one very specific politician in particular. "There's A Last Time For Everything" offers a comparatively tranquil, yet energy-packed, closure to the album. And the album's finest track, "Breathe Breathe", walks a delicate tightrope between the reassuring and the spectacularly spooky. The fact that these aforestated tracks are not especially noteworthy examples of the album (with the exception of "Breathe Breathe", that is) but, rather, representations of what the album offers is impressive and a real sign of the album's quality.



It has been alluded to that The Strokes would do anything to create songs this well crafted, rock masterpieces this immediately, obviously brilliant. This is a fair assessment of Division of Laura Lee's crafting abilities, but it must be mentioned that D.O.L.L. never really seems to be aiming for the parochial mindsets of the average Strokes devotee. The band doesn't seem to have a sartorial director behind the scenes who strives to make them appear like irony-loving NYC hipsters, nor do the band contrive pridefully to be seen with "edgy" or fashionable hangers-on. What they DO endeavor to accomplish, however, is a sort of musical evolution, a constant improvement on their band's sound with each album they release. That they continue to succeed at doing this would be, in an ideal world, celebrated by the Mass Music Media, and accolades would be spilling forth from those scribes' keyboards. In this world, however, Division of Laura Lee remain underground, unsung, unrecognized.



Division of Laura Lee are a great rock band. It would behoove the music fan to unearth this hidden jewel of an album, to snap it up, to play it constantly, and to fall in love with it, i.e. one of the best recordings of 2004 (which, by the way, is a well-earned superlative)."

Das Not Compute? No, it definitely das

J. Rossi | Downers Grove, IL | 09/08/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At this point in time, when a new invention consists of putting a digital clock in something that never had a digital clock before, it is hard to make something original. In the even more limited world of rock music, the task of acheiving orginality is damn-near impossible. Division of Laura Lee is not going to appear in a lineup of groundbreaking musicians, but they sure give the ground a hell of a rumble on its second stateside album.



Though the band are signed to Burning Heart and are distributed by Epitaph, this is about as far from three chords, two minutes, one tempo that is in punk's stem cell line as one can get; rather D.O.L.L. sound like a dirtied up glam band weaned on post punk. There are bass lines Joy Division would have maimed for, guitar tones (and lines) the Strokes would write blank checks for and enough ethereal swirls to make emo kids swoon, closer to another band with an abbreviated name (B.R.M.C.), but better.



'Endless Factories' is a perfect showcase: a spiky guitar intro yields to a reverbed/sustained guitar that almost steals the song, but while there may be some sibling rivalry the two guits swirl together in the chorus. D.O.L.L. is right when they sing 'I got what you need.' 'Dirty Love' is propulsive and unrelenting, and then where the hell does that chorus come from? You'd be forgiven for thinking that 'Loveless' would be a hazy noisefest (a la MBV's opus album) or crooning ballad, but it turns out to be an atmospheric stomper and a more-than-pleasant surprise.



'Q2' and 'All Streets End' breeze by quickly, but just try to help but singing along to the chorus of the former or ignoring the propulsive grind of the latter. After the rumble and noise subside, 'There's a Last Time for Everything' makes for a perfect slow-burning closer, and the bonus track ('Quiet=Silence') is even better. Why 'Quiet=Silence' has no distinction of its own is beyond me, as it is both hauntingly beautiful and chilling.



D.O.L.L. is not rebuilding the foundations of rock music, but the band is certainly shaking them. Can't you hear that rumble?"

"Das" computes

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 06/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Don't confuse them with anybody else -- they're less angular than the Hives, and smoother and more complex than the Danish Raveonettes. Swedish quintet Division of Laura Lee is in fine form in their sophomore album. "Das Not Compute" is a spare, intense blast of punk rock that doesn't disappoint.A catchy drum solo draws you in, right before the revved-up riffs start in "Does Compute." Following up is the cataclysmic rocker "We Are Numbers," the gentle spaciness of "Breathe Breathe," and the distorted bounce of "Dirty Love" and "Loveless." Finishing it off is a three-song cycle of raw rockers, followed by the startling, sad "There's A Last Time For Everything." Division of Laura Lee has that rare quality in punk or punk revival music -- it has that elusive catchiness that bands like the Clash had, but it keeps that raw, explosive edge. They have the energy and darkness that sounds startlingly fresh, even when revamped with a slight new wave edge.The more typical punk-rock of their first release, "Black City," has been given some new spins. The harsh guitar riffs and surprisingly fluid basslines are strong. And there are some extra flourishes -- the tinkling piano in "Breathe Breathe," and some interwoven electronic washes that add a colorful edge to the dark music.Per Stalberg's vocals sound a bit strained, and sometimes washed out in waves of distortion. But his howling vocals are suited to the songs themselves, with their grim look at the world's condition, and the lyrical dark focus. "There's a last time/for ever-y-thing..." Stalberg informs us sadly in the final song. Everything goes silent, then blossoms into a stately rocker full of finely honed distortion, bells and deep murmurs.The murky grandeur of "Das Not Compute" bodes well for these Swedish rockers. Dodging the sophomore slump, the Division of Laura Lee elevates their garage-rock-y sound with some musical exploration."