I Am the Dream - Shapes & Colors

[Jeremy Aaron]

I Am the Dream - Shapes & Colors
Record Label: One Eleven Records
Release Date: July 1, 2008

If you are a musician in any capacity, or at least own some instrument, whether it be a keyboard or guitar, put together a crude recording of yourself and send it to One Eleven Records. If they were desperate enough to sign I Am the Dream, anyone has a shot at signing a deal. It’s unbelievable that this band is signed at all, given how many great unsigned bands are out there, never mind a deal with the same record label as the Reign of Kindo.

If you’ve ever watched the two-girls-one-cup video, you have some idea of what listening to this album is like. When it’s over, it’s an experience you wish you could undo. It’s the same type of electro-hip hop performed by 3Oh!3, but in comparison with this disc, Want sounds like OK Computer. If you’ve ever wondered what Trace Cyrus would sound like when rapping, this is probably pretty close. By that description, it sounds like it would be awkward, and in reality, it’s way more awkward than that makes it sound.

About the only positive about this record is that the backdrops for these songs could have formed the basis for electro-pop songs that aren’t offensively bad, but when taken as a whole, this album frankly sounds horrible. Trying to make this band sound good would probably be a task akin to trying to polish a piece of shit. Not surprisingly, the lyrics are cringe-inducing as well, even more so when they try to sound serious (like on “You Can’t Escape”).

Mercifully, the EP is over after five songs. The smart listener would recognize five seconds into the opening track, “Kiss Me Kill Me,” that music-playing devices thankfully have a stop button and would promptly employ it, putting an end to the agony before it becomes unbearable. The even smarter listener would heed this advice: steer very clear of this album and this band.

3Oh!3, Metro Station, Jeffree Star
myspace.com/iamthedreammusic (http://www.myspace.com/iamthedreammusic)

[cscwell107]

Awful just awful

[meghanlail]

Yeah...this is really bad.

[darkmartheight]

They sure whore the shit out of this as an advertisement on ap.net's main page. I went to listen to it and thought it was horrid. Two girls one cup sounds way better than this :o

[Steve Henderson]

Yeah, I tried to listen to this and just couldn't stomach it. And I hear some awful music. The rapping has no flow, and the beats are really amateurish. They could have signed much better.

[joshy hizzle]

Good review, this album is garbage.
"I'd rather spend an evening giving birth"....

[WhoSaidThat?]

EP of the Year.

[WhoSaidThat?]

I mean it.

(I don't mean it)

[BalancingacT]

I've thought long and hard about it, and I've decided that yes, I am the only human being alive that likes I Am the Dream.

Well actually they're really bad, but I'm obsessed with their song "Le Retour".

[MOM_ALWAYS_SAID]

It Wasn't Trash...no, It Wasn't Album Of The Year, But For The Most Part They Put Some Effort Into It! To Compare It To Trace Cyrus Trying To Rap, Is A Pretty Crude Statement. But Whatever, Everyone Has Their Opinion. Plus I Like 3 Oh! 3, Amd Metro Station. Jeffrey Star Is Wayyyyy Worse Then I Am The Dream! Blieve That!

[knowsMUSIC0101]

i love reviews like these.....i have been listening to i am the dream for a few months now, and to say that you can compare them to music like 3 oh 3 and jeffery starr, you got to be kidding me...

absolutepunk.net really sucks a nice nut and destroys a lot of reviews....why because they think that if you can master an instrument you should be signed???? is that why????

so now you cant make music and express yourselves in this art form because you cant master how to play the drums or the guitar????

get the hell out of here, its people with opinions like these that make great artists like i am the dream bring something different to the table....just because you dont have ears for it, doesnt mean you have to bash it just because theyre not the "reign of kindo" or "modest mouse"

you all are really retarded and simple minded if you cant except new music into the instustry, which is terribly lacking with innovation and new ideas....

keep an open mind about music and art, music comes in many forms, if you dont like something, keep it to yourself instead of bashing people that work hard and express them selves through the art of music

than you


whoever reads this comment i just made......please spread the word of I AM THE DREAM and theyre innovative new type of music with many genres put together.....simply amazing and creative....keep it up DREAM!!!!!

spead the word!!!!!

lets make music a place of unity not opinionated assholes:-d

[sundaydrivekid]

have u ever seen these boys live?????? they have the craziest show everrrrrr. their ep was good but its nothing compared to their stage shit. i don know why ppl r such assholes to iatd.

ppl have to stop being bitches and respect every artist. its easy to tlk shit infront of your computerrrr. and wtf is with comparuing them to jeffery star and trace cyrus. this reviewer must be one of those wannabe trendy hipsters who listens to elliott smith all day and think not shaving his 5oclock shadow makes him feel more like a man!

and why is absolutepunk reviewing this band? of course a website like this would bash iatd. just because i am the dream is on the same record company as the spill canvas doesnt mean you have to be such close minded whinny punkasses

[diy_ethic]

I guess you have to be extremely close minded to not like the EP. Just like the reviewer who's probably a huge fan of the A.K.As and Fall Out Boy. It's calle originality and that's what this is. Completely original like nothing I've ever heard. Them being compared to Trace Cyrus rapping makes me think that you didn't even listen to the record and are just going on a whim because there is no parental advisory sticker on it or a really dark and morbid picture of skulls and bones and other cool real hipster shit.

[Steve Henderson]

to say that you can compare them to music like 3 oh 3 and jeffery starr, you got to be kidding me...

keep an open mind about music and art, music comes in many forms, if you dont like something, keep it to yourself instead of bashing people that work hard and express them selves through the art of music
Good lord. First off, the label compares them to 3oh3 on the sticker of the CD itself we got. And they asked for a review - this is a review. Not all are going to be positive. Especially for this release.

and why is absolutepunk reviewing this band?
Because it got sent to us.

I guess you have to be extremely close minded to not like the EP.
No you don't. I like all sorts of music and I hate this EP.

[Steve Henderson]

Fucking street teamers.

[raj from IATD]

Raj from IATD here....

I'm writing here to voice my opinion on this matter because you had the oppertunity to write about us, so I'd like to respond to reviewer of this review, as well as anyone else who has written on this thread.

My brother and I aren't pissed off at the reviewer, ap, or anyone else who has negative things to say. As an "artist", you leave yourself vulnerable to criticism and negativity. I give the reviewer credit for having the balls to be honest and say what he feels. Yes, it was upsetting to read, as it would to anyone being written about in this light. But we're not mad because its important to speak your mind. We never asked for anyone to like us. We're just making music that WE enjoy and hope that some kids will too. We make songs, tour non-stop, and are always respectful of anyone that takes the time to think about us- whether be good or bad.

We're readers of a lot of threads on ap and its sad how many bands/artists get ripped apart by kids on here. But that's the beauty of free speech. If an artist always had good reviews, their ego would skyrocket! We don't have an ego. We just enjoy doing what we do and are fortunate to have a great label who loves us like family and believes so strongly in what we're doing. We could have signed to a hip-hop label but would have probably recieved more criticism for being different.

You're welcome to keep expressing your opinion about us. That's life. We'll get over it.

And for the record, we're half-Indian (because people are always wondering) and yes, you wouldn't believe how much discrimination we've encountered for being mutts.

Ciao,
Raj

[WhoSaidThat?]

Raj from IATD here....

I'm writing here to voice my opinion on this matter because you had the oppertunity to write about us, so I'd like to respond to reviewer of this review, as well as anyone else who has written on this thread.

My brother and I aren't pissed off at the reviewer, ap, or anyone else who has negative things to say. As an "artist", you leave yourself vulnerable to criticism and negativity. I give the reviewer credit for having the balls to be honest and say what he feels. Yes, it was upsetting to read, as it would to anyone being written about in this light. But we're not mad because its important to speak your mind. We never asked for anyone to like us. We're just making music that WE enjoy and hope that some kids will too. We make songs, tour non-stop, and are always respectful of anyone that takes the time to think about us- whether be good or bad.

We're readers of a lot of threads on ap and its sad how many bands/artists get ripped apart by kids on here. But that's the beauty of free speech. If an artist always had good reviews, their ego would skyrocket! We don't have an ego. We just enjoy doing what we do and are fortunate to have a great label who loves us like family and believes so strongly in what we're doing. We could have signed to a hip-hop label but would have probably recieved more criticism for being different.

You're welcome to keep expressing your opinion about us. That's life. We'll get over it.

And for the record, we're half-Indian (because people are always wondering) and yes, you wouldn't believe how much discrimination we've encountered for being mutts.

Ciao,
Raj
:appl:

Very well said, Raj. That's a stand up guy if I've ever seen one.

[meghanlail]

Raj from IATD here....

I'm writing here to voice my opinion on this matter because you had the oppertunity to write about us, so I'd like to respond to reviewer of this review, as well as anyone else who has written on this thread.

My brother and I aren't pissed off at the reviewer, ap, or anyone else who has negative things to say. As an "artist", you leave yourself vulnerable to criticism and negativity. I give the reviewer credit for having the balls to be honest and say what he feels. Yes, it was upsetting to read, as it would to anyone being written about in this light. But we're not mad because its important to speak your mind. We never asked for anyone to like us. We're just making music that WE enjoy and hope that some kids will too. We make songs, tour non-stop, and are always respectful of anyone that takes the time to think about us- whether be good or bad.

We're readers of a lot of threads on ap and its sad how many bands/artists get ripped apart by kids on here. But that's the beauty of free speech. If an artist always had good reviews, their ego would skyrocket! We don't have an ego. We just enjoy doing what we do and are fortunate to have a great label who loves us like family and believes so strongly in what we're doing. We could have signed to a hip-hop label but would have probably recieved more criticism for being different.

You're welcome to keep expressing your opinion about us. That's life. We'll get over it.

And for the record, we're half-Indian (because people are always wondering) and yes, you wouldn't believe how much discrimination we've encountered for being mutts.

Ciao,
Raj

I'm not a fan of the music, (hip hop just isn't my thing) but I respect you a great deal for this. The ability to take criticism is something most people don't have. Keep doing what you're doing and never let anyone tell you otherwise. Just because a bunch of elitest jerks (including myself, I'll admit) don't like it, doesn't mean our opinions mean anything. Do it because you love it and other people love it. :-)

[QuietThings430]

I saw these guys live in Buffalo once playing for MC Chris and it was an absolute joke. Apparently their touring with Brokencyde in the fall... those two would be perfect together...