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View Full Version : Cue the Doves - Architectures of the Atmosphere


Gabe Gross
04/12/06, 04:06 PM
Cue the Doves (http://www.cuethedoves.com) - Architectures of the Atmosphere
Release Date: March 21st, 2006
Record Label: Dead Letter Records (http://www.deadletterrecords.com)


My family and I grew up with this dog. Her name was Winnie and she was a black dachshund (you know. one of those annoying little weiner dogs). Well she loved playing fetch; whether it was 100 degrees outside or 6 inches of snow that little bitch loved the tennis ball we threw around. Well, for shits and giggles sometimes we would toss around a softball that was neon yellow (like the tennis ball). For the life of her she could never get that mouth around the ball. It was hilarious. Now she's dead.

In the same manner, Cue the Doves, led by ex-bassist of The Beautiful Mistake, Jon Berndtson, have tried to bite down on something too big for their mouths. The first track, a creepy instrumental, reminds me of, say Castlevania was a contemporary game for Xbox and Playstations systems, this song would be put on repeat for level one. Now, "Majestic Twelve" is a proper intro for Architectures of the Atmosphere, but after that the album falls apart. The vocal arrangements are hoarse at best, with angry screams and layered harmonies in between. Though the title track is the best track between instruments, lyrics and vocals in matching a relative sound for the band, hollow guitars seem to frame most songs as the drumming is pushed far behind other elements of the song. Bringing the percussions forward and giving them a chance to explode would be a sucessful cure to the unorganized progression. Drummer Jake Quam shows the ability but just isn't given the chance to make his mark known.

With that said, not only is the music barely redeemable, the scattered sound clips from films discussing general themes of space, space encounters, extraterestrials and so forth are awkwardly placed at the beginning of nearly every single track. The attempt at creativity is reaching too far on this freshmen album. Suggesting to begin with the basics like basic song building (even verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-chorus would be a good start) may sound condescending but it's the best chance they have to recover from such a mess.

Architects of the atmosphere eh? Well, try getting your feet on the ground before building again. Kthx.

kazuma_ootaro28
04/12/06, 04:12 PM
This album disappointed me. I loved the demos of "The Red Planet Falls" and "Peregrine Mountain" I heard back in 2005, but I think I expected too much from Cue The Doves.

Tony Pascarella
04/12/06, 04:15 PM
Hahaha. I'm glad I passed on this review. I wouldn't have had such a great comparison to make, although our scores would have been similar. I just can't get into this CD at all.

Save my day
04/12/06, 04:16 PM
Hah, the dog comparison made this review.

xTJx
04/12/06, 04:34 PM
le pwn?

Gabe Gross
04/12/06, 04:44 PM
Gabe Gross relies on UMBers to copy edit his reviews. respect.

Gabe Gross
04/12/06, 05:03 PM
Wow. Unprofessional much.

traffic much? (http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details?&range=3m&size=medium&compare_sites=www.upbeetmusic.com&y=r&size=medium&range=6m&url=www.absolutepunk.net#top)

LilRyan732
04/12/06, 05:12 PM
Nu-metal revival much?

Mercy Medical
04/12/06, 05:15 PM
Hahaha, wow.

Waltz Whitman
04/12/06, 05:26 PM
Ugh, after hearing all the bad reviews for this bad I'm starting to believe it may just suck. I really liked the demos they used to have. . .damn.

ForeverInADay
04/12/06, 05:29 PM
"Now she's dead."

HAHAHAHA oh man.

I whole heartedly agree on the review though

duffe
04/12/06, 05:29 PM
Wow.

Blake Solomon
04/12/06, 08:04 PM
Great analogy, I actually have a mental image in my head of how bad you think this album is. Just the fact that you had to think of such an elaborate story to say how much you disliked this album speaks volumes. Good review.

Tony Pascarella
04/12/06, 08:27 PM
traffic much? (http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details?&range=3m&size=medium&compare_sites=www.upbeetmusic.com&y=r&size=medium&range=6m&url=www.absolutepunk.net#top)Pwned!

mynameistaken
04/12/06, 08:41 PM
i dont undertand why there was so much "hype" or "anticipation" for that matter about this band. i completely agree with everything in the review. the dog comparison was very fitting.

unwritten
04/12/06, 08:49 PM
Raped.

lezsolt
04/12/06, 11:00 PM
Shitty review, great album.

Snails
04/13/06, 12:40 AM
Haha, great review!

Mercy Medical
04/13/06, 06:57 AM
Well its certainly gone up since you left, hasn't it?

I prefer to keep the quality of our stuff over the quantity of our views.
Seriously, why do you come to this website when all you ever do is talk shit?

|ant|
04/13/06, 09:28 AM
Suggesting to begin with the basics like basic song building (even verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-chorus would be a good start) may sound condescending but it's the best chance they have to recover from such a mess.


You sir, have just described what is deathly ill about the music industry in this era. Bands who follow this system consistently fall through the cracks. I was disapointed with this review, and believed a so called "professional" reviewer could see the talent here. I am by no means dubbing this a masterpiece, but your review is ridiculous. This site is on cue about 50% of the time, but when you miss, your marksmanship is nonexistent. Giving albums like Moneen, Punchline, Rookie of the Year, and Hit the Lights all higher than 80%??? That is a shame. All of these bands in whos sound are not mutually exclusive get the nod from your reviewers. At least someone got Anathallo - Floating World right, or I would lose all faith in this sight. Also, it seems Anathallo did not follow your so called "formula to success" as stated above, and put out probably one of the most interesting and visceral listening experiences this year. Shame on you.

SLADE775
04/13/06, 10:38 AM
LOL!

Great review.

I hate this band.

Drew Beringer
04/13/06, 10:45 AM
Giving albums like Moneen, Punchline, Rookie of the Year, and Hit the Lights all higher than 80%??? That is a shame.

Haha, I reviewed Moneen, Punchline, and HTL. Anyways, all those albums deserve their scores. Moneen is one of the best albums you'll hear this year, and Punchline and HTL both wrote good, catchy pop-punk albums. They do what they do well, just because you don't like it doesn't mean they don't deserve the scores, the majority of users here agreed with those ratings.

|ant|
04/13/06, 11:52 AM
I don't know. Music is all opinion and what appeals to your own tastes. Although, I can't help but pass up those types of albums because that style is so oversaturated. I have written some reviews in my day, and I don't judge bands and/or cds by first, second, or even third listens; that is almost impossible. Because many a times, you hear a cd that is catchy and you think it is phenominal, but realize that it's what I call "face value music" and nothing more. Those kind of cds wind up in a box in my archives. Repeat listens and staying power are what cause me to give bands high scores, not my opening response. Anyway, that is my 2 cents, or maybe more than you wanted to hear. Good day.

Gabe Gross
04/13/06, 12:31 PM
You sir, have just described what is deathly ill about the music industry in this era. Bands who follow this system consistently fall through the cracks. I was disapointed with this review, and believed a so called "professional" reviewer could see the talent here. I am by no means dubbing this a masterpiece, but your review is ridiculous. This site is on cue about 50% of the time, but when you miss, your marksmanship is nonexistent. Giving albums like Moneen, Punchline, Rookie of the Year, and Hit the Lights all higher than 80%??? That is a shame. All of these bands in whos sound are not mutually exclusive get the nod from your reviewers. At least someone got Anathallo - Floating World right, or I would lose all faith in this sight. Also, it seems Anathallo did not follow your so called "formula to success" as stated above, and put out probably one of the most interesting and visceral listening experiences this year. Shame on you.

hmm i did write the anathallo review...weird. i back my review up 100%. it is not a good album, but if you have listened to it i would love to hear YOUR thought on it besides you ripping apart the site as a whole (we have like 8 reviewers so those tastes aren't always going to match up). Thanks for your feedback.

|ant|
04/13/06, 09:07 PM
hmm i did write the anathallo review...weird. i back my review up 100%. it is not a good album, but if you have listened to it i would love to hear YOUR thought on it besides you ripping apart the site as a whole (we have like 8 reviewers so those tastes aren't always going to match up). Thanks for your feedback.

I was by no means trying to bash the site as a whole. I am just saying I disagree with some of the album reviews. I frequent this site, and will continue to. I was just venting frustrations with some bands that I personally can see through, of which I think are overhyped. Just a differ in opinions. I have respect for all the reviewers, I just disagree with some reviews. I will give you kudos on the Anathallo review though!