Cute Is What We Aim For - Rotation
Record Label: Fueled by Ramen
Release Date: June 24, 2008
Cute Is What We Aim For pulled off a bit of a surprise when they posted the song "Doctor" on their Myspace on April 21st. Reactions were mixed, but the typical response was astonishment at how "good" it was. Truthfully, "Doctor" is not a great song, but expectations for the band were so low after their debut album, that any progression would be heralded as a great success. The song is definitely a step up from their first album, and even got their detractors at least a little curious about their upcoming album.
Now everyone's questions have been answered with the album's release. Biases aside, there are a few things that are apparent on this album right away. First off, Cute Is What We Aim For add a little more punk to their punk-pop, which actually makes them sound more generic. Rarely is that ever a compliment, but in this case, it definitely is. The Same Old Blood Rush With a New Touch was unique in that no band had ever recorded a album that sounded like that, released it and proudly called it their work.
Perhaps the new sound is less attributable to the band than it is to new producer John Feldmann. Rotation is definitely a more polished album. While there are definitely times when a producer should stand back, let the band take control of their music and lay off the studio sheen, working on a Cute Is What We Aim For album is probably not one of those times, and Feldmann wisely lays the gloss on thick. Also, the addition of horns (as in "Hollywood") add another dimension to the music. It really "saves" the album because some of the underlying flaws from their first album remain.
Vocalist Shaant Hacikyan's lyrics are either overly simple and repetitive or tend toward the cliched when he tries to sound witty. Also, the songs border on catchiness, but their are a lot of incomplete hooks. Take the chorus of "Navigate Me" as an example of both. The first part of the chorus "Navigate me through your body / Navigate me," has a melody that catches your ear, but they follow it up with "Navigate me through your body / Navigate," with exactly the same melody. This album is peppered with these "missed opportunities" where changing a few notes here and there would have created a strong hook, but instead, the song comes off as sounding monotone. In this genre, you need to have really catchy songs, especially if you're lacking in the lyrics department. Cute Is What We Aim For ultimately fail at this.
On the flip-side, Hacikyan's vocals are greatly improved. He sounds much more forceful and confident this time around, although this could also be a benefit of better production. His really odd inflections and his tendency to over-enunciate aren't so prominent.
Whether or not you like the band's music, it's hard to deny that this is a major improvement. While they sound much more like their pop-punk contemporaries, they are still below average in comparison. Hacikyan needs to come up with some original lyrics and stronger melodies to prove his band belongs in the big leagues.
I think your review was well-written and unbiased.
Of course I enjoy the album and think the score should be higher, but it's all up to the reviewer and I thought you did a good job.
Great review. But I still think the album was pretty solid. But I agree that Shaant needs to come up with some better lyrics for whenever they put out a third record
I think your review was well-written and unbiased.
Of course I enjoy the album and think the score should be higher, but it's all up to the reviewer and I thought you did a good job.
Unbiased, are you kidding?
The only way for someone to look at this "unbiased" is to not review it on this site.
I'm not bashing this review (or reviewer), I just don't understand what's with all the criticism and such surrounding them on this site, when there are far worse bands.
The only way for someone to look at this "unbiased" is to not review it on this site.
I'm not bashing this review (or reviewer), I just don't understand what's with all the criticism and such surrounding them on this site, when there are far worse bands.
My main goal with this review (and all reviews I write) is to be as objective as possible. AP makes this easier by including the ratings criteria. I try to keep how much I like an album or band out of my ratings and reviews. You'll notice I never mentioned whether I liked the album or not. I just basically gave the album a rating based on the criteria and attempted to justify those ratings with the review.
Now, if you read Joe DeAndrea's review, he mentions something to the effect that Blood Rush was the soundtrack of his summer or something like that. That sets up a biased review. While I'm sure a lot of people enjoy reading reviews with a personal touch, that's not my style. I feel it's more important to say that a certain quality on the album was good or band and explain why rather than say how much I liked or didn't like the album, although sometimes I guess this will be evident in the review.
I made a point to mention the positive improvements the band made on this record, and it wasn't meant to be a scathingly negative review at all, merely an objective one. There are those that hate the band unconditionally and others that like them. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle and did my best to express that.
My main goal with this review (and all reviews I write) is to be as objective as possible. AP makes this easier by including the ratings criteria. I try to keep how much I like an album or band out of my ratings and reviews. You'll notice I never mentioned whether I liked the album or not. I just basically gave the album a rating based on the criteria and attempted to justify those ratings with the review.
Now, if you read Joe DeAndrea's review, he mentions something to the effect that Blood Rush was the soundtrack of his summer or something like that. That sets up a biased review. While I'm sure a lot of people enjoy reading reviews with a personal touch, that's not my style. I feel it's more important to say that a certain quality on the album was good or band and explain why rather than say how much I liked or didn't like the album, although sometimes I guess this will be evident in the review.
I made a point to mention the positive improvements the band made on this record, and it wasn't meant to be a scathingly negative review at all, merely an objective one. There are those that hate the band unconditionally and others that like them. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle and did my best to express that.
I'm not saying you're unnecessarily biased, i realize it's completely impossible to be entirely objective. And yeah, Joe's was extremely biased.
I'm just saying that, on this site, there's such like, "anti-hype" about them that there's no way for a comment to be taken subjectively.
It was a well written review, and i'm on the fence about the album. I have no qualms with you or the review, i just hate the bias on this site sometimes.
Good review, and I agree about the album, though I really honestly just can't stand this band. I am a fan of some of the generic pop-punk bands, but CIWWAF has neither the charm nor the exuberance that they should to justify their lack of originality.
"The Same Old Blood Rush With a New Touch was unique in that no band had ever recorded a album that sounded like that, released it and proudly called it their work."
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