Search - Sneaker Pimps :: Splinter

Seth D. (4wallz) from SPARTA, TN
Reviewed on 1/3/2012...

When I first heard the Sneaker Pimps I was listening to The Saint soundtrack. Remember that movie? The one with Val Kilmer as a master of disguise thief? Early 1990s movie. I liked it and the soundtrack was cool too. Loved the song the Pimps contributed. The perfect mix between techno vibes and the cooing voice of the lead singer Kelli Alli. The album that song came off, Becoming X, quickly became a favorite disc after I bought it. The perfect mix of the thumping beat and sweet vocals.
So when I had a chance to pick up this cd I did with great expectation. And now, meh. Not that it's a bad cd. It's ok. The music is still good. Still electronic and has good beats. But even with Kelli not in the band anymore they really should've went with another female singer. The guy on here can sing, but the music was so much better with a female voice behind it. It just sounds awkward and weird. If maybe I had heard this cd first without hearing Kelli sing the songs, I would probably really like it. Too bad that's not the case....
I'm not saying don't get this cd. I'm just letting you know it's not for all of us. It's definitely not for me.

1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Later, Kelli - Chris croons AND brings the juice

AmazonWoman | New York, NY | 10/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How mystifying it is to me that anyone ever confused Kelli Dayton (now calling herself Kelli Ali and posing mostly nude on an unremarkable album with songs to which she is a mere contributor) as the Sneaker Pimps, when she was merely their recruited window dressing. The gentlemen gave her props and license, but she disrespectfully ran away with it, and took the orientation of the band with her, into the woods. It required much moxy for Liam and Chris to reclaim their creation by dismissing her and returning to their roots and lifelong partnership. It was a hugely rewarding decision.



What a dreadful shame that Sneaker Pimps have been crudely lumped into such categories as "electro pop" a la Madonna, perpetrator of one of the world's most pervasive and enduring musical frauds (one more reason why the artifically-sweetened, nasally twinged, Mini Mouse, babygirl, bubble gum-scented, limited vocal abilities of Kelli, who invited comparison to said musical fraudster, was a serious detriment to the band).



Chris Corner is the genuine article - he creates magnificently AND performs as talented instrumentalist and stunningly gifted vocalist, and he does so to a standard of perfection not achieved by most of the more popular acts in ANY genre. He is a rare jewel.



(And Liam ain't no slouch, neitha!)"

Could've been better

Fofifa | Mar Vista, CA United States | 01/13/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"First, what is it with all the folks saying "Kelli decided to leave"? That's nonsense. She was *asked* to leave. That's simply a fact. Whether that was the right decision or not is a separate issue. No question, Becoming X is a vastly superior album, and no doubt Kelli did great work on it - but let's not forget, so did the other guys. Everybody shared in the responsibility for making that album a masterpiece. Perhaps they felt that direction was exhausted, or they just wanted to move on musically and Kelli no longer fit into their vision - nothing wrong with that. That's an artistic decision, and there's no "right or wrong" there. Sure, Splinter is not even 10% of what Becoming X was, but who says they would have done any better had Kelli been asked to stay on? Maybe they just had one album in them of that quality. The vast majority of bands out there never even come close, so to have a Becoming X on your resume is enough.



There are good things about Splinter, but it doesn't have that fundamental quality of obvious genius that Becoming X has. It doesn't grab you in a totally compelling way. You listen to Becoming X and you just *can't help* being lifted up by a great work. By contrast, Splinter is easy to ignore. It's not "bad" or terrible or anything, but it's not compelling. I listened to it the first time, and I couldn't remember a single song - totally different from Becoming X. Again, Splinter is not bad - there are some nice instrumentals and compositional ideas, nice production, reasonable arrangements, and I kinda like the vocals. It's just not inspired and "out there". When listening to music or looking at art, I'm searching for that utterly compelling quality - and Splinter doesn't have it. I don't feel like my money was wasted, but if I lost the disc... meh. Whereas Becoming X is a prized CD I would not like to lose."