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| Blogging Through an Album (Cartel - Self-Titled) |
Blogging Through an Album (Cartel - Self-Titled)
06/29/07 at 05:01 PM by Jason Tate | I decided to do a very unofficial "blog" of the new Cartel disc - following my thoughts on the album in a stream of consciousness approach as I listen to the CD. This is not a review of the album -- it is just my thoughts and comments while listening. Something I felt like trying out ... never done it before, figured it might be fun.
01) The Best
It's never a good sign when you put the album in - and the first thing your kid sister says is, "ugh, this isn't good, is that a girl singing"? The track opens as though it's trying to be more than it is -- a little circusy. Will kind of sounds like Chris from Saves the Day (new era Chris) with more range. Not a great way to start off the album.
02) Tonight
Production sounds hollow. The rhythm of the vocals in the verses does not fit with the music. The chorus is pretty good ... the music is similar to "Say Anything (Else)" - good song. Lyrics are pretty flat. Wish the album would have kicked off with a bang ... something with a little more rock.
03) Lose It
Maybe the worst song I've ever heard the band record. The only good portion of the song is the vocals and drum work - and even that isn't particularly strong. I played the song in the background and my dad thought there was a "weird sound" coming from the speakers ... it was Will's weird vocal portion at the intro to the chorus. Really, really, really, repetitive.
04) No Subject (Come With Me)
Mid-tempo. Again. The chorus is the best of any of the songs so far. My dad's left the room - my sister has stopped caring about hearing the new album - and I'm still blogging. That's not a good sign ... you'd be surprised how often my family can pick the "next big thing" from albums I play for them.
Not a single song has been up to the level of the tracks on Chroma.
05) This is Who We Are
The guitar intro sounds like it's wanting to be Luckie St. Except it's not. The best song so far. They should have released this song to fans first.
"Breathe a little deeper now, because this who we are."
Good lyrics - music is basically just for Will to belt over.
06) I Will Hide Myself Away
Ugh - lyrics are annoying. Mid-tempo is the name of the game on this album so far. Nothing fast - nothing exciting - nothing daring. Just safe and slow. Not a summer release. Wish Will would open up his voice a little more. On the last CD this is the kind of song where he'd really shine. For some reason, it just doesn't come across the same.
*Segue*
Cartel pretends they're Imogen Heap. Good vocal control ... very Frou Frou like. It's a big sweeping ballad with a chorus that reminds me of "You Are Not Alone" by Saosin.
I don't think I'd ever let my friends catch me playing this. If they were going for "epic" like the best tracks of their last CD. They almost reach it - yet come up short.
07) Wasted
The best song so far. Interesting lyrics, unique sound. Why'd I have to wait until the 7th song to hear this? It gets very repetitive and overproduced by the end - but it's probably the stand out track.
08) The Fortunate
"Matter of Time"-esque. Mid-tempo. Driving drums. The song never takes off. I'm bored. The production sounds -- muddy. None of the instruments stand out. Shrug.
09) Georgia
I feel like I've heard this before. Mid-tempo (surprise). Good chorus, but uses a similar line as the last song ("seconds"). Reminds me of a B-Side from TSL's BOATS - but not as fun. In fact, that's a trend I've noticed ... none of the songs are fun. None of them keep my interest in a pop manner. None of them make me want to drive down the highway, windows down, music loud. That's what I loved about Cartel. There are countless others I will listen to for a lazy Sunday in the Fall. Maybe if I re-evaluate what I expect/desire from this band ... I'll enjoy the songs more.
10) If You Do, If You Don't
Slow. Boring. Completely forgettable. Overproduced - too much going. The layered vocals don't work as well when you can tell so easily that only one member of the band has any vocal talent whatsoever. I dunno ... just not feeling it ... wanting the next song.
11) Lonely One
Mid-tempo. Will reaches for a higher vocal range. Sounds forced - but smooth. Good guitar riff toward the end of the song. But by the time it comes out ... you've zoned out. I feel like this is a song I'll love equal to the amount of times I play it. I need to give it more time.
12) If I Were To Write the Song
Slow. Bluesy. Reminds me of "Come back to Camden" by Morrissey. The best part is the vocals and the end guitar line. If it doesn't put you to sleep.
The piano portion at the end is fantastic.
Final Thoughts: Good. Not great. I hope it's a grower - unfortunately - I'm not really looking for a pop band to "grow" on me. Pop usually catches me - or doesn't. It's okay. It's not going to be liked by the AP.net community or the mainstream. And I don't think that has anything to do with the "bubble" - without the bubble the same thing would be said. The problem is that the album barely resembles "Cartel" -- the pieces are there - but the sound from their first EP (and even most of Chroma) is gone. I now know why "Lose It" was released as a single -- it's the catchiest song, the only one with a real hook. That's not what I was expecting from a "Cartel" album.
This may go down as the band's "In Reverie" - completely polarizing. It won't push them into the mainstream, it won't gain them the stardom they want, and it's best for a rainy or cold winter day. Not what anyone was expecting from this band's sophomore release. I didn't want Chroma part 2, and I didn't get it ... so that's a plus (plus, I miss you so much).
13) Wasted (Wyclef Remix)
Fucking awful. Laughable.
PS: I'll check back in as I spend more time with the final product. We'll see where my feelings/tastes/thoughts go from here. I think it'll be cool to see if and how they evolve over time. One of the main reasons I wanted to get my thoughts down in this "blog" manner right away. I can only assume I'll end up liking it more than I do right now -- but compared to MxPx, YC, and TSL -- it's just not on the same "level."
(52.8 minutes long for those curious.)
Edit #1: I'm now back home and listening to the CD again. It's dark, lights are off, and the mood/tone is much more fitting to this album. I'm enjoying it in this setting much more than I did initially. I guess that's my fault for expecting a summer-pop album. Guess now I'm curious why the band would do a "bubble" to go to the mainstream ... and then not release something the crowd they catered to is going to like at all? Interesting. Maybe in the top 100 albums I've heard this year ... but not top 30 material at the moment. The thoughts will continue.
Edit #2: Put the album on while driving to the store -- the first three tracks are just no way to start off an album. There's so much here I don't like ... too many layers ... too much going on ... it feels awkward, uncomfortable, and forced. I wish I had the RAW files to strip half this shit off with pro-tools and hear the songs at their core. I feel I may like them better that way. I just can't get away from feeling like so much potential is wasted. The vocals are fantastic ... and shown off at times (maybe a little too much?) ... but then things fall back into the mix and you can barely hear/tell what's going on in some songs. Hire one of the Lord Alge's to remix this or something - maybe that would help? I still fail to see any song that's a hit, anything that will resonate with a large group of people. I keep coming back to: if the band couldn't break with "Runaway" or "If I Fail" on their last album ... nothing here is going to push them to a new level. I want to like this ... I keep trying. More thoughts I'm sure will be coming later. This may end up being the most I've ever talked about an album on AP before (which is fitting seeing as we've been following this band from the start, and I know people will be interested in reading it). I'm enjoying a place to get my thoughts down --- I think I may go put the new Yellowcard on.
Edit #3: Decided on one more listen before bed. Turned off all the lights and listened to the CD with headphones on my floor. It's ... just not that good. I like it, don't love it. (I think that's the best way to describe it.) There's nothing that really makes me want to put it on and listen to it. I feel like I'm trying to love it more than I can. Nothing that draws me to repeat listens. Some of the songs ("Georgia") are growing on me, while others are actually making me despise them ("No Subject" for example - I have started skipping - and I don't understand why the band ripped themselves off on "This is Who We Are"). Disappointing. We'll see if I feel differently in the morning ... I'll keep editing this post. "Smooth like a rolling crystal ball"? Ugh, some of these lyrics are awful. I continue to believe this will not be liked by past haters, (ex)fans, and the bubblicious. I don't know who is going to really, really enjoy this album. I wonder what Joe's (Deandrea) is going to think. Just too much going on ... no direction ... no restraint. They got lost by thinking they were different after "Q" and "A" and "Minstrel's Prayer" --- it shows --- and it doesn't come across very well. Someone needs to remind the band that there's nothing wrong with writing killer pop-songs.
Edit #4: Woke up. Put the CD on. Did he really just say, "I can't wear that hat today?" Yeah. These lyrics suck. It's sunny out - I don't feel like listening to this. I'm about to just put on Jet Lag Gemini instead. It's ok, and I need to accept it's nothing more than ok. It's not great, it's not amazing, it's not something I'll be listening to in a week. It's a mess of overproduction and ill-thought out songs.
Edit #5: Spent the day playing the album. I can't get over the feeling that the band wants to be something they're not. Can't get over the feeling that the album is boring and actually sounds bad. The songs are deteriorating on me - not growing. Each listen annoys me more and more. I have portions of an "official" review bouncing around in my head. It's not good. It's honest. The band that I thought could help move pop into promising directions ... has let me down. Monumentally disappointing - I can't even recommend purchasing this album. It just screams "cherry pick the few good songs off of me ... save yourself the anguish." Two other staff members heard this -- both displayed similar comments. Only people so far praising it are the band's "friends." If the band still has the same record label 10 months from now - I'll be surprised. It's almost as if they tried to hop genres to prove critics wrong -- and instead proved everyone right. I don't think I'll be playing this for a while -- I'll give it some time to sit -- then I'll come back and re-listen before writing a review (probably for this journal). As of now ... I keep thinking the words "convoluted" and "no direction" and "mess" describe the album best. We had three bands (MxPx, YC, TSL) in the past month showcase how pop can be done in a manner that is emotional, fun, and pushes the limits of an artist. And we've had one showcase that a cocky demeanor and vocal talent cannot create a great album on their own. You shouldn't have to force yourself to like something ... and I've given up trying to force myself to like this. It's dark ... the lights are out ... and I'm in the mood for creative, smooth, and devilishly clever pop music. I'm putting on Iron & Wine. | |
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