We're not in "Utopia" anymore.
Cody | PA | 05/03/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I've heard the entire album streamed online, and "Train" was the first song I listened to. It kicks off right away with a bang as heavy, crunching synths dominate and soon enough Alison's ghostly voice floats above the clamor singing "Plastic brain scar, I want laser." I was loving every minute of it. This isn't a song similar to those found on "Felt Mountain" -- and that's a good thing. The first album was brilliant, mysterious, soothing. This album is darker, deeper and deadlier. Imagine a rose -- beautiful, vibrant, but of course it has thorns (and what is a rose without thorns? not a rose anymore) and it is capable of drawing blood. Goldfrapp have been getting a lot of press lately for this new direction they're supposedly heading in, abandoning the format and sound of their first release and going all clubby and disco-y. I don't see it like that at all. This has always seemed to me like a completely understandable development -- bands grow, they never stay the same -- and we really don't want them to, otherwise they become predictable, a formula, stale. There is nothing predictable or stale in Goldfrapp's new collection. Each of the songs is outstanding, especially "Train" which I particularly love to play. Goldfrapp hasn't let us down, but you may think so if you're so eager to live in the past - if they had done an album similar in vein or exactly the same as "Felt Mountain" then everyone would be complaining that they were copying themselves and not trying anything new. Ack. Oh yes, one more thing, the previous reviewer commented on "the poor artwork." As with "Felt Mountain," Alison (who was an art student before pursuing music) designed and supervised the artwork and layout. I especially like the cover of the "Train" single where we find a wolf head atop Alison's body replacing her own noggin. Scrumptious!"
Ignore that other guy, listen to me
Joseph W. Annabi | www.SparklingSeahorse.com | 05/07/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Different isn't worse, it's just different. That goes for the cover art and the song train. Train isn't a disco song. It's not eighties either. It's electronic music, just like the first album was. I just listened to the 4 tracks on this album twice in a row while riding my bike, and it was fun fun fun. Can't wait to get Black Cherry. Allison Goldfrapp has a beautiful voice, and this is a good single."
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1