2002 should be remembered as being a fine year for American groups bringing their British '80s influences bang up to date and relevant again. So while Liars capture the essence of Gang Of Four, Interpol tackle Joy Division... more » and this year's Jesus And Mary Chain are Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Radio 4 aim for The Clash's post-'London Calling' phase. It's another ambitious step to take and one which should provide many pitfalls but once again it's another brave and successful excursion. With vocals recalling the vitriol of Mick Jones and a sustained melodic intensity 'Gotham!' is another post-punk exemplar. 'Our Town', 'Dance To The Underground' and 'Save Your City' are driven, urgent anthems which sound a rallying cry for the disenfranchised. Perhaps even more satisfyingly, 'Struggle' and 'Pipe Bombs' re-enact The Clash's experimental dubbing techniques. Purists may scoff that this music is unoriginal but it would be foolish to moan when some of this revivalist material has a level of consistency which surpasses the original work. Mute.« less
2002 should be remembered as being a fine year for American groups bringing their British '80s influences bang up to date and relevant again. So while Liars capture the essence of Gang Of Four, Interpol tackle Joy Division and this year's Jesus And Mary Chain are Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Radio 4 aim for The Clash's post-'London Calling' phase. It's another ambitious step to take and one which should provide many pitfalls but once again it's another brave and successful excursion. With vocals recalling the vitriol of Mick Jones and a sustained melodic intensity 'Gotham!' is another post-punk exemplar. 'Our Town', 'Dance To The Underground' and 'Save Your City' are driven, urgent anthems which sound a rallying cry for the disenfranchised. Perhaps even more satisfyingly, 'Struggle' and 'Pipe Bombs' re-enact The Clash's experimental dubbing techniques. Purists may scoff that this music is unoriginal but it would be foolish to moan when some of this revivalist material has a level of consistency which surpasses the original work. Mute.
"This New York city band's newest offering, Gotham, is one of the most accessible politically minded albums there is. Radio 4 mixes disco grooves, post-punk guitar squeals, dub bass, and political rantings into beautiful and easily digestible concoctions. You'll find yourself humming along to the melodies with out even realizing the extremist political diatribes bubbling under the surface. Standouts include the opening track Our Town, with it's great little keyboards sounds haunting all the right moments, Calling All Enthusiasts, with it's funk guitar and Mick Jagger-esque vocals, and truly one of the best tracks of the year, Certain Tragedy, which is one of the greatest post-punk anthems ever. Buy this record and you will thank me."
Well maybe not yet
rusty shaver | seattle | 02/18/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"on listening to the previous record I thought they had some potential but , again, they are derivative of Gang of Four and if I had more time I could probably tell you where each of those riffs came from they are so familiar!I appreciate what they are after but go out and get "Entertainment" and "Solid Gold" by Gang of Four instead - hard to believe they are from 20 years ago! As far as newer bands of this ilk go I think the Liars are a major force!"
Should be an ep
Markus Garcia | Chicago, IL USA | 05/28/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"this is a simple description of radio4-
gang of four meets the clash.
don't get me wrong there is some really good songs on here and it is worth listening to or buying a used copy even but it really doesn't need to be a full length. The songs on gotham that don't sound like Go4 or the clash are world music or latin dance reggae. If you condensed it down to 6 songs you'd have a rocking little ep. one that you could invite your friends over and start a dance party too.
funky gang of four bass lines, angular guitar, clash like vocals and even some interesting synth. have fun"
Funk/punk at it's hip grinding best
matthew reinholds | auckland New Zealand | 12/18/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The premier representatives of the punk/funk new york scene including other such notables others as the rapture and liars. leading influence Anthony Roman (bass and vocals) is well versed in the big apples' music culture having growen up having breakfeast with Johnny Thunders at his fathers boarding house. Radio 4 on Gotham soothe and shock at the same time. There is a slight political manifesto to some of the material such as on 'struggle' but it's tracks like 'certain ratio' and 'eyes wide open' where they blend disco funk with punk attitude to create a blinding rythum that places them ahead of their peers. The dark - ska infused 'dance to the underground' an earlier single is already an anthem of the new york scene. Can they follow it up though?"