Search - Go Team :: Thunder Lightning Strike

Strange little booger

Jason | CaLiFoRNIA | 10/01/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Eccentric, original, distinct and fun. Yet, spectacular 'tis not.



It goes down easy, especially at thirty minutes. It's headstrong in its peculiar style, and has an odd obsession with brass -- listen to that fanfare motif hiding under "Bottle Rocket"!.. just wonderful -- and harmonicas (?!). The vocals are as unique as anything I've heard, and generally speaking for the better, providing a musical experience that, in all, damned, honesty, I cannot compare to anything I've heard before. That, when I think about it, is a pretty extraordinary feat.



But it ain't all radiant goodness, friends. While it's little else than good times while it's rolling about with glee, it abruptly ends. And then it's done. Over. Gone. "What, is that it?" And, mind you, this question pops up every time I listen to it, so I predict I've allowed myself the due time to absorb it properly. None of the tunes are particularly striking, sans my favorite on the disc, the freaking ENCHANTING 'Huddle Formation', which is surely one of the most offbeat, giddy pieces of music I've heard in a decade. From my experience, most the people I've happily showcased the gem for have been either weirded out or confusingly unimpressed, but I shun them for such distaste, as is the correct thing to do. Moving on, the nature of the album elaborated, barely... The first track, "Panther Dash", pretty striking, with dazzling hooks and the introduction of the oft revisited harmonica. Yet, in only three minutes, it practically outstays its welcome, bringing forth little new ideas after the one minute mark; not a good sign. Then, on the other side of the spectrum, you've got a tune like "Feel good by Numbers", a waste of time and devoid of any spark even some of the more moderately amusing songs possess. When you release an album as short as thirty minutes, and end up throwing a song of such dreck in the mix (even if it's only two minutes), the more negative implications begin to shine forth.



Certainly it's not out of the question that I'm being too harsh on the album, but despite all of its innovative vibes, I'd feel a spear of guilt stabbing my chest if I were to rate this anything higher than a three. Three and a half, maybe, but even that could be pushing it. By no means is this not worth hearing, and those more fixated on creative virtue than anything just might be in heaven, but I prefer a little more, lasting oomph to my music. Good stuff, but little more, me thinks."

A little too much treble

Lane Phillips | Minneapolis, Minnesota | 07/11/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I love the energy of the songs on this album, but I must criticize the mix. There is just too much treble, making this album painful to listen to on headphones. For this reason alone I am docking 1 star from an otherwise 5-star album. I hope that on their next album they can afford to hire a better studio and engineer."

Fixed social scene

IRate | 02/06/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"3 1/2



Go! brought a youthful, unabashedly cynic-free enthusiasm to the indie scene with their clever usage of cheer vocals wrapped around a highly engaging cocktail of unpretentious, spirited instrumentation. Perhaps the only aspect that brings this consistent charmer down is poor production, translating all this urgent energy with treble-centric distractedness."