Takota - The Ivory Tower

[Russ Hockenbury]

Takota – The Ivory Tower
Release Date: May 16, 2006
Label: Ares Records


Having been a critic for a good number of years now, I would like to think that I am above falling head over heels for ear candy. That being said, I’m a sucker for grandiose rock albums. They’re like the Mike & Ike's of my musical world. As much as it pains me to admit it, I gave Nural’s Weight of the World a perfect score last year. Even going so far as to unleash this magazine ad worthy one-liner, “Buy this record because their next one will be platinum.” Punknews saw through it. Aversion saw through it. Countless others did as well. Not me. Listening now, I can’t explain how I ever fell for such cheesy mediocrity.

I may bite my lip and curse the sky for declaring this a year from now, but I love the debut release from ex-Spindle frontman Grant Arnow’s new project, Takota. The Ivory Tower smacks you in the face with it’s over-the-top rock & roll befitting the score to any of the Rocky movies. Further, I’m convinced that if they were ever to make a movie about Rocky’s illegitimate daughter (the result of an affair with Apollo Creed’s mildly attractive widow) fighting her way up from the streets of Philly, “Lioness” with its octave shattering hook would be the first single to emerge from that soundtrack.

The brilliance in The Ivory Tower is that the disc owes more to the “monster ballads” of the 80s than to today’s music. Nope, these tunes aren’t new-rock radio or emo-combover friendly, but that shouldn’t stop you from giving Takota a chance. The combination of a lush rhythm section, correct use of electronics, and Arnow’s Axl Rose-like swagger produce a feeling few other albums can in a scene that takes itself way too seriously. These songs, regardless of what the lyrics are saying, make you feel good. Empowered, even. And if loving this album is wrong, I don’t want to be right.


Tommy Gunn was an ungrateful bum who got what he deserved: “Lioness”, “The Ivory Tower”, “City Drugs”

Fetch me my bandana and hair spray, motherfucker: Queen, John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, Circa Survive

[lushintransit]

what the hell is reviewer's tilt? I still have not figured this out...

[boldt_action]

what the hell is reviewer's tilt? I still have not figured this out...
yeah, i still don't know what reviewr's tilt means either...


if everything i do is wrongggg....then by God i do it righhht..

[Russ Hockenbury]

yeah, i still don't know what reviewr's tilt means either...


if everything i do is wrongggg....then by God i do it righhht..

It's basically how much we liked the album. It's the most subjective of all the ratings.

[Ancora]

why would you review an album more than 5 months before it hits the general public? logically, giving a great review to a small band such as takota this early is doing them a disservice. all you are doing is provoking people to download their stuff online because of the hype you created for them without having an approachable market in place for the hype to consume....word

[Russ Hockenbury]

why would you review an album more than 5 months before it hits the general public? logically, giving a great review to a small band such as takota this early is doing them a disservice. all you are doing is provoking people to download their stuff online because of the hype you created for them without having an approachable market in place for the hype to consume....word

Ummm, the year is 2006. This album came out in May of this year.

[Poultrylicious]

Ummm, the year is 2006. This album came out in May of this year.
i'd like my coffee with a side of pwn pie

[Russ Hockenbury]

Little known fact about me: I was an undefeated amateur boxer (1-0).

[newfoundmichael]

Is anyone friends with these guys on myspace? I love the titles of the bulletins that they always post...they keep you guessing. But anyway, this is a really good album. It was also produced by Brandon of Atreyu if you didn't know.

[Blake Solomon]

great review, i like what ive heard. I do hear the axl rose-esque vocals too, haha.

[|ant|]

what the hell is reviewer's tilt? I still have not figured this out...

It really isn't that hard to figure out, good Lord.

Reviewer tilt (does just what it sounds like)- tilts the score up or down depending on if the reviewer loves/hates the album, because it makes the overall average higher or lower. Furthermore, if the reviewer tilt of lets say, this album, were 8 instead of 10, the overall average would be lowered to 87%.
If you can't get it now, walk off of a bridge.

Concerning the album: love the throwback vocals, it seems like I would love this for a short time and then would just become an empty vessel. I don't know, I need to give it more listens.

[Steve Henderson]

It really isn't that hard to figure out, good Lord.

Reviewer tilt (does just what it sounds like)- tilts the score up or down depending on if the reviewer loves/hates the album, because it makes the overall average higher or lower. Furthermore, if the reviewer tilt of lets say, this album, were 8 instead of 10, the overall average would be lowered to 87%.
If you can't get it now, walk off of a bridge.
Thank you...christ I had no idea it was that hard to get. Shit, the words alone should be self explanatory, let alone the fact that most videogame sites use a similar metric.

[|ant|]

Thank you...christ I had no idea it was that hard to get. Shit, the words alone should be self explanatory, let alone the fact that most videogame sites use a similar metric.

I guess there are a lot of idiots in the world today. I am reminded of this everytime I drive on the Interstate, watch people trying to go through a revolving door, and when I read some of the comments on this site.

[saysmydoctor]

I guess there are a lot of idiots in the world today. I am reminded of this everytime I drive on the Interstate, watch people trying to go through a revolving door, and when I read some of the comments on this site.
Please step away from the keyboard.

Good review, Russ.

[YourMusicSucks]

Definitely gonna check this out now.

Good review, nice and short.

[OveriseFan]

I guess there are a lot of idiots in the world today. I am reminded of this everytime I drive on the Interstate, watch people trying to go through a revolving door, and when I read some of the comments on this site.

I guess there are a lot of assholes in the world today. I am reminded of this everytime I drive on the interstate, watch people laugh at those trying to get through a revolving door, and when I read some of the comments on this site.

[OveriseFan]

Good review Russ, I'll give this a listen, even if I'll regret it.

[|ant|]

I guess there are a lot of assholes in the world today. I am reminded of this everytime I drive on the interstate, watch people laugh at those trying to get through a revolving door, and when I read some of the comments on this site.

Opinions from Jersey don't count.

And why are you defending people that are idiots? Hmmm... I wonder...

[Ancora]

my bad....thought it came out in 2007......im an ass

[ForeverInADay]

my bad....thought it came out in 2007......im an ass
hah, yeah.

[saysmydoctor]

Opinions from Jersey don't count.

And why are you defending people that are idiots? Hmmm... I wonder...
I'm going to have to ask you, again, to please step away from the keyboard and I'm going to extend my direction and demand that you then proceed to off yourself.

[|ant|]

I'm going to have to ask you, again, to please step away from the keyboard and I'm going to extend my direction and demand that you then proceed to off yourself.

Opinions from teens don't matter. Go do your homework.

[Steve Henderson]

Opinions from teens don't matter. Go do your homework.
Haha if you didn't go there I thought about it :)

[starcrossdlovex]

Yeah, I agree with this review. Pretty solid release.

Opinions from teens don't matter. Go do your homework.
Okay, so that made me laugh. But, how about you make it that opinions from ignorant teens who actually say "off yourself" don't matter? We're not all that like, I swear =x haha.

[bowarrowapple]

i like the cd.

[Andy Lara]

thanks for the awesome words Russ. I'm glad you dudes are into our sweet preserves. much Love.

[Kevin_Eudora]

Is anyone friends with these guys on myspace? I love the titles of the bulletins that they always post...they keep you guessing. But anyway, this is a really good album. It was also produced by Brandon of Atreyu if you didn't know.

They are our friends on myspace, they definately have the best myspace bulletin titles haha. They just played with METAL SKOOL haha rock and roll

[iHeart]

It really isn't that hard to figure out, good Lord.

Reviewer tilt (does just what it sounds like)- tilts the score up or down depending on if the reviewer loves/hates the album, because it makes the overall average higher or lower. Furthermore, if the reviewer tilt of lets say, this album, were 8 instead of 10, the overall average would be lowered to 87%.
If you can't get it now, walk off of a bridge.

Concerning the album: love the throwback vocals, it seems like I would love this for a short time and then would just become an empty vessel. I don't know, I need to give it more listens.


the funny thing is that instead of listening to it, loving it for a short time, and being left with the sad feeling of listening to the empty vessel, the hooks grow harder and harder to erase from your memory, the lyrics begin making more and more sense, and the overall experience becomes more exciting and full. it took me a few concentrated listens to realize the brilliance of the album lies more than in the immediate sound as it dances in your ears, but in the clever, simple, yet free from stereotypical content, that is found in the lyrics of each song.

i side with russ.

[Kaystarmaker]

i love this album, it took 4 weeks to arrive, but i can't stop listening to it

best track: lioness

[shiznits]

this band sucks dickballs

[caityconundrum]

this band is truly talented and passionate, and just sweet fucking guys.
they put on a great show, and are very worth checking out.

last summer my dad had them come and play an acoustic set in our backyard and now every time i see them at shows, they ask when the next barbecue is. they're very nice people.