Review from the Synthesis
Synthesis_jason | Chico, CA | 08/10/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I think I need a new brain, because mine is having a hard time wrapping itself around Where Is Black Ben?, the newest release by Need New Body. To say the album is strange is to seriously underestimate it. At first it seems like the creation of some out-of-tune junior high kids who just figured out how to make music with a computer, but by the third song you're hooked. I'm not quite sure how this happens, but the combination of strange noises, rapping and dirty lyrics creates a musical phenomenon, one that will have you dancing and bopping your head uncontrollably. An open mind is necessary for this one, but you'll be glad you tried it.
- Emilie Clark
Synthesis.net"
Could be genius if they'd just make an effort!
Grant H | NB, Canada | 03/30/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"While I really hate reading reviews like it, I'm forced to go through this album track-by-track because it seems to be the only way possible to communicate both the beauty and genius that can be found on this record and the awful garbage as well. 'Where's Black Ben' starts off well enough with an optimistic and humorous opener 'Bright Tha' Day," the lyrics of which make most sense if one is watching the sunrise in the morning. It's really quite a well constructed song with a catchy and good lyrics. I love it. The next two songs are both pretty good, with nice melodies and beats and lyrics on 'Totally Pos Pass.' So far, so good. Track four, 'Poppa B' has got to be the shiner on here- it's a truly beautiful, wrenching folk song with banjo work to melt your heart. I can honestly say it is one of the best songs I have in my pile of records. From there, however, the next few tracks are just downright awful, except for 'Mouthbreather' and 'Tuthmosis,' both of which are pretty inane, but I like anyway. The rest ('Outerspace,' 'Who's This Dude') either is going to hurt your ears (literally) or scar your mind forever. Things begin to pick up on the second half only by track ten, which is kind of a dance song, but has a horrible bit of feedback noise at the end which pretty much ruins anything good it had going for it. Track eleven, 'Peruvidia,' though is awe-inspiring, proving that this band really has good musicianship- these guys really know how to put together a good song. It's a soaring, emotional, optimistic and bright song with subtleties that slowly reveal themselves with each listen. I almost wept with joy the first time I heard it. It's followed with the enjoyable "So St. Rx" about South Street, Philedelphia. I really quite like it- it's quite fun-loving and witty. Very well-done. After that, though, a stream of tracks run by, all of them stinkers. Even for the weirdest experimental music, this stuff still passes as junk. Then comes the wonderful and highly original 'Eskimo' and the album's over.
Once the disc finishes spinning, the listener is left almost with a sense of loss. There's so much good (more than 1/2 the LP) in this album that is overshadowed by the horrible depths of bad. It's depressing to hear the same composers of "Peruvidia" make songs like "Abstract Dancers," in the space of one album, no less. I really wish the label could have flexed a bit of muscle and said, "We're not pressing until you cut the crap" or Need New Body had a sense of self-censorship. Either way, they could be riding the high of a highly successful and critically aclaimed album rather than being pushed aside as a joke. I really hope that they've learned their lesson by the next album and make a true effort to fulfill their obvious talent."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1