Search - Echo & the Bunnymen :: The Fountain

Echos of Echo

Melkor | San Diego, CA USA | 04/29/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"On first listen, I really did not like the new Echo & the Bunnymen CD. A shame, because I took to "Siberia" almost immediately. After several months, and seeing E&tB play a blistering live show, I still have not taken to this CD.



There are many, many newer and younger bands out there now trying to sound like Echo, and generally trying capture the sound of the "post-punk" era. Some are pretty good (I like The Horrors and Interpol). Most (e.g. The Bravery) are talented-but-boring, and are really pale comparisons to the original bands they are trying to emulate. My problem with "The Fountain" is that Echo sound like they are trying to sound like the bands that are trying to sound like them. The song structure and production sound like all the generic bands lacking creativity/originality that are putting out music now. It is very disappointing.



The album simply doesn't work as a whole (for me). A real let-down, since "Siberia" was so great. The live show is still incredible, so I hope "The Fountain" is just a fluke. Others seem to like this album, especially new fans who don't seem as familiar with the older material. Some of the songs to work well on their own when I'm listening on "random", out of context, so I'll give it a 3/5."