Head Automatica - Popaganda

[Gabe Gross]

Head Automatica – Popaganda
Release Date: June 6, 2006
Record Label: Warner Brothers

Summer 2004 brought a big surprise from Glassjaw's Daryl Palumbo when he sprung an energetic electrodance project with Head Automatica and their freshman release Decadence, where it thrived off winding vocals and viral electricities that both intrigued and infected listeners. Two years later, Daryl and Co.--Jarvis Morgan Holden (bass), Larry Gorman (drums/vocals), Craig Bonich (guitars) and Jessie Neson (organ, piano, and keys)--have retaliated with Popaganda, an aptly-named follow-up that exudes sugary guitars, rolling and swinging vocals and jittery percussions.

Pleasantly beginning the album is "Graduation Day," an appropriate first single. The keys on the chorus portray the celebratory song and immediately make listeners aware that this is not the same Head Automatica of '04. The chord progression and choice of instruments avoid serious song structure and instead take a lighthearted and comical swerve to end certains tracks ("Laughing at You" and "God"). Also, Daryl continues his snotty, snobby, pretentious, obnoxious voice in and out, up and down, through and through the safe drumwork ("Oxy Contin" and "Scandalous").

What I appreciate most from this album is that Head Automatica show that they are comfortable in switching genres. Evenso, if pop music can be a safe bet at times, the album doesn't grow old through multiple spins. For old fans, approach cautiously to see what the band have grown into. And while this project hasn't decided on a specific sound, you ought to respect the staying power of a sophomore release that strays from what others thought was an established sound.

Though the album isn't separated purposefully by a certain song to split the album in halves, this reviewer tends to find more creativity on the keys and also in tempo changes of the latter tracked songs. "Shot In the Back (the Platypus)" and "Million Dollar Decision," I would argue contribute to the inspiration of the second part which respectively keeps on track with memorable lyrics. The final three songs, are a capstone to this record. Because of their inaccessible licks (reminding me of The Faint), I would guess most listeners would pass through them. Although for me, "Egyptian Musk" and "K Horse" are my two favorite songs on Popaganda. They are the alley cat and stray dog; drums are brought forward, guitars get tweaked out solos and the vocals progress with vindication.

Without the assistance of Dan the Automator producing Popaganda, Head's precision of sound doesn't settle well as a complete record. Where Decadence had a bottle-rocket pop to each song Popaganda explore a mishmash in production which allows for instruments to blend in and, especially guitars lose their punctuation. Most songs salvation in Daryl's vocals which shows weakness in how reliant a Head Automatica song is for Daryl to step it up. While Popaganda isn't the answer to any pop equation, this album is a hallmark for the summer and a must-have for 2006.

[btbam > you]

i couldn't stand the album

[TheHeretic]

i like the album. it's decent

[LilRyan732]

I loved it. It's one of my favorites of the year, but definitely far from one of the best.

[CLARIFY THIS]

I love the vocals on this record

[FailedByDesign]

I love the vocals on this record

I second that notion.

[Chemical Love]

Not their best stuff onPopaganda.

[painisaillusion]

First cd was 1000x times better.

[Sanchez]

First cd was 1000x times better.

I second that notion.

[applesandcyanid]

Fuck Head Automatica.

I want new Glassjaw.

[trustmeimokay]

I'm finally gonna sit down and give this album a solid listen through.

[gonfreaks]

First CD was better, but I enjoyed both of the songs you mentioned as your favorites ("K Horse" and "Egyptian Musk").

[naphtha74]

curious and cannibal girl are amazing tracks

[piaffeprncess98]

I personally love this.

[J.Feldmann]

I like more than the first.

Daryl's voice is awesome!!!

[lezsolt]

I hate Decdence, but I like this album, though I'd take 1 new Glassjaw album over 1000 "good" HA CDs.

[danalynne]

k horse is the only song i really like on this album.

[the sob]

this album is fun. not great, not terrible just fun.

[obeng]

Fuck Head Automatica.

I want new Glassjaw.

amen

[Steve Henderson]

This album is not very good.

[Just An End]

'curious' is super fucking catchy

[Carlo Marx]

This record was a terrible follow up to Decadence, and most definitely not an essential record of '06

[unwritten]

I like it a lot. Great summer tunes.

[elonman05]

First album was better but this is still better than like 85% of the shit that came out this summer. This album will still rule my car stereo and outdoor bbq's this summer!

[fearthesloths]

First album was better but this is still better than like 85% of the shit that came out this summer. This album will still rule my car stereo and outdoor bbq's this summer!

you're talking like the summer is over... when in reality it hasn't even begun.

Personally i was midly disappointed by this album, i love Daryl and everything he's done but the songs on this album are far too repetitive and dragged out. By the end of each song it feels like you've heard the chorus 20 times and that gets on my nerves a whole lot. Daryls vocals are great as usual but this record lacks the passion that is very prominent in his earlier work. The songs themselves are very basic and pretty boring and if Daryl wasn't singing on this then i don't know if i would even like it at all.

[IATA4224]

Its a decent album, but it is surely not Decadence and Decadence is a much more complete album....

[gonz]

glassjaaawww pleeeaaassseee

[wiReZ]

I think the album is awesome (but my opinion is most likely a little biased torwards liking Daryl's work). With that said, I think this album review is a fair and I can agree with the writers thoughts on it. All in all, if Daryl hadn't been a part of it, I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.

[Drew Beringer]

This album is not good.

[Adeniz19]

honestly i like this more then decadance. just a fun record to blast while driving. this cd has not gotten old for me yet and thats what i expect from a good pop record

[Steve Henderson]

This album is not good.Echo?

[hornerlas]

Fuck Head Automatica.

I want new Glassjaw.

I second that notion.

[WakingTheMisery]

dan the automator made the first album amazing.

[wiReZ]

I second that notion.

2007 fools (so they say). haha. dont get your hopes up.

[Drew Beringer]

dan the automator made the first album amazing.
correcto
Echo?
echo

[Jamie Pham]

i like the old cd better

[Throwback]

The first seven songs on Decadance >>>>> any song on Popaganda. But Popaganda is a much more consistent record and Million Dollar Decision might be one of the best pop songs I've heard in awhile.

[GoWaitInTheCar]

I dunno.

I didn't really like the first record, it got old and boring fast.

[xburningcoffin]

HA is Daryl so without daryl this band wouldn't even exist so anyone who breaks it down to just the rest of the group ruining the record obviously has no clue about this band at all. the whole point of this album is to accent daryl's vocals and lyrics and that imo is successful.

[lassise]

i just got it, im listening right now. i dont see much difference from before, its not as extravagant, but i still like it. i wouldn't say its a total change in direction. scandalous is kinda crappy

[permanentdan]

it is a good album, its just completely different from the first. the only songs that sound like they are in the same boat as decadence are nowhere fast and maybe shot in the back. it def grows on you though. graduation day is pretty catchy, and his vocals did come out awesome. youre all right about that one



afilia-come check us out

www.myspace.com/afilia

[SandritaRocks]

i like the cd... its different than the last but why would i band want to continue making the same cd.. k horse and egyptian musk are my favorite tracks on the album as well... and i cant stop playing the cd

[dontfront]

There are so many insane statements made by some people in these comments!

Its sickly disgusting when someone just says: "This Album Is Not Good". Using words like: "Good", or "Bad" are so shallow when describing music that your opinion can automatically be negleted by someone who is genuinely looking for an opinion. Atleast give a few reasons as to why you don't like the album. I'm sure you can spare that much time from your busy life.

I don't see how one could give a 4/10 for production for this album. I understand that the absence of Dan The Automator makes the record lose certain qualities if compared to the first album, but then again... this isn't suppose to sound anything like the first album with perhaps the exception of "Egyptian Musk" and "K Horse". I think the production is extremely fitting for this album. The guitars are laid out in a pretty typical "Pop Rock" way i.e. "wall guitar" effect, which takes away from the individual quality and presence you hear in Decadence. I'm pretty sure these guys thought long and hard what kind of tones and compressors and EQ's to use (One could go forever about this...).

When I first heard the single I was verrryyy dissapointed because I was expecting another Decadence, but I figured I'd give it a chance and listened to it a bunch with fresh ears.

Only thing I would have liked to hear more from this album is a little more originality in the instrumental parts. It's understandable to try to keep things simple in a record like this, but it would have been cool to hear something a little more out of the ordinary with the instruments. I agree that Daryl really makes most of these songs what they are, but the instruments that ARE there are really solid and work well.

I think they accomplished what they went for well. Great sing-a-long record if you ask me.

[burn with power]

i love this album.

[[A --> B] Life]

Great sing-a-long record if you ask me.

Word. I love it. Fuck the hataz.

[terrrrrible]

Is it just me, or does 'Egyptian Musk' sound like a rip-off of Sean Paul's 'Temperature'?

[Mr_Ian]

While most 'punk' types are dissing this album, it's getting some great reviews from music magazines that cater to older fans like Q and Mojo. My dad LOVES this album cos he says it reminds him of Squeeze and The Jam, which is who Daryl wanted the record to sound like. Mission accomplished then This is not music for a younger crowd i don't think. having said that, i can't find fault with this album. I loved the first record, this is just great in a different way. It might have been an idea to change the name of the band though since this bears no similarity to the album that was made by Daryl and Dan, although i suppose they'd want to keep the name for marketing purposes...

[Loch_Doun]

grr i cant stand the 100,000 posts of "i want new glassjaw"
shut the fuck up.

[elonman05]

While most 'punk' types are dissing this album, it's getting some great reviews from music magazines that cater to older fans like Q and Mojo. My dad LOVES this album cos he says it reminds him of Squeeze and The Jam, which is who Daryl wanted the record to sound like. Mission accomplished then This is not music for a younger crowd i don't think. having said that, i can't find fault with this album. I loved the first record, this is just great in a different way. It might have been an idea to change the name of the band though since this bears no similarity to the album that was made by Daryl and Dan, although i suppose they'd want to keep the name for marketing purposes...

Daryl's personal idol is the lead singer from Squeeze. I was just coming to post that you can tell with this album how much of an influence Squeeze has on Daryl. This album totally rocks. You really gotta expand your horizons kids. Yeah I like all those emo/screamo/indiemo bands this site puts on a pedestal, but go listen to some squeeze (who are grossly underrated for their time period) and go back 4-5 months from now and listen to Popoganda and you'll be like "why did I hate this album in the first place." Yeah Decadence was more experimental and had some absolutely badass songs...but you're casting this album to the curb before you give it a full chance.

[I was Brad]

i liked this cd but not as much as their last one. That last cd was alot more dancy and i liked that alot about it. this new one is a lot more pop less dance. kinda pisses me off, but o well.

[CircaEnder]

he has managed to get 2 bands on my most overrated and most hated bands....ever.. i hope he quits sometime soon..

[TyroneShoolaces]

i was so excited for this album and sooo let down.
i think it is horrible.

[Lovewaslove]

wow, that is about as perfect of a review that I have ever read.

[Lovewaslove]

I WANT NEW GLASSJAW ha get over it, glassjaw owns

[pin your wingsx]

i love this cd

[radxbandit]

i streamed this on AOL, what a pleasent surprise. the rock organ and energetic instrumentals was a nice evolution from the last record.

[sometripe]

Wasn't nearly as disappointing as I was expecting, but still a disappointment.

[mwhitt]

Daryl's personal idol is the lead singer from Squeeze. I was just coming to post that you can tell with this album how much of an influence Squeeze has on Daryl. This album totally rocks. You really gotta expand your horizons kids. Yeah I like all those emo/screamo/indiemo bands this site puts on a pedestal, but go listen to some squeeze (who are grossly underrated for their time period) and go back 4-5 months from now and listen to Popoganda and you'll be like "why did I hate this album in the first place." Yeah Decadence was more experimental and had some absolutely badass songs...but you're casting this album to the curb before you give it a full chance.

Ah! Completely beat me to it. This album is so Squeeze-esque that it's not even funny -- maybe even has some Cheap Trick in there (the chord progression in "Laughing At You.") But seriously, a 4/10 for production? Can you explain where the 'instruments blend' (isn't that the point of music?)

And can you also explain how a voice can be pretentious?

[stringquartets]

i really dont like this album. it doesnt have any of the spunk of the last one, it's just four chord powerpop. ill put on an okgo record for that.

[eubanks]

this album rocks and anyone who cant see or hear that has no appreciation for music....they have redefined pop and its about time somebody did...and about glassjaw....the only glassjaw that matterd was daryl beck todd larry and manny....so as far as im concerned glassjaw is dead....long live head automatica!!!!!

[andrewEP]

read my review (http://www.emotionalpunk.com/cdreview/437/) :) if you disagree..this album is sensational! :)

[TheUsed2]

Two words for this album... dis-appointing

[eubanks]

read my review (http://www.emotionalpunk.com/cdreview/437/) :) if you disagree..this album is sensational! :)


andrew your a gem among men!!!!....i couldnt have said it better myself!!!!

[NeonBlonde407]

def diff

[RadbotHWW]

Fuck Head Automatica.

I want new Glassjaw.


I think it's an overall great cd for summer. but hell yea i want some new fuckin GLASSJAW!

[imelliott]

new cd blows,i hate it

[Koopato]

Its good, but its pretty different from the first CD.

[SockMonkeyRiot]

I like the sound of Decadance a lot better, but this is still good, I'm suprised nobody has mentioned "Nowhere Fast" probably my favorite song on the album.

[Broken Parachute]

I liked it. It's wasn't too bad.

[permanentdan]

I like the sound of Decadance a lot better, but this is still good, I'm suprised nobody has mentioned "Nowhere Fast" probably my favorite song on the album.


i did. and i agree, i liked it the most. but then i really liked decadence, especially the razor. such a great yet simplistic song lyrically. the rest of popaganda is just different and will have to grow. give it more than one listen is the only thing i can say.

[zrac99]

Laughing at you is the best song

[mshoreline49]

I personally liked this album a whole lot more than decadence and I think overall its a really good cd. Definately top 5 for my 2006. I bumped this all summer

[OhYuhImFierce]

It's pretty good music. But Decadence was better.

7.5

[bummm]

I love the lead singers voice.

[twokidtech]

wow, what's with all the hate... what if i said i liked decadence but liked this better because the vocals sound even better on it? are you going to shoot me now?