|
As with any genre of music, new Britpop acts run the risk of sounding
stale and reheated like last week's microwaved leftovers. In fact,
we've come to the point where bands are starting to sound like a casserole
that had been made by throwing together all of last week's microwaved
leftovers and then re-microwaving them. But enough of the food analogies;
it's not Kalimoto's fault that I'm hungry. The point is that
Kalimoto, like that casserole, is basically a hodge-podge of sounds
that a few visionary people created and a few thousand not-so-visionary
people ripped off.
So is this an automatic dismissal? Not necessarily. There are plenty
of bands that have managed to make really, really yummy casserole.
And while I wouldn't go so far as to put them in the same Casserole
Genius Category as Super Furry Animals, Elbow, or Athlete,
they definitely rise above your average Saturday night hash at the
trailer park. In fact, Multicore is a surprisingly mature debut
effort, complete with smart arrangements and tight rhythms, which
are probably best displayed in opening track "Miracle Lemon".
Nevertheless, one can't help thinking of Richard Ashcroft and
Thom Yorke when listening to lead singer Joe French's
slightly forced yet impressively flexible vocals. Nor can one ignore
the obvious influence U2 had on the guitar solo in second track
"Everything Goes".
The bottom line: these guys still have some growing to do. They
need to learn the delicate art of serving their listeners a delectable
blend of flavors that they know they've tasted before but can't
quite pinpoint when or where, as opposed to just chucking an assortment
of spices at them, bottle, lid, measuring spoons, and all. Having
said that, they have an innate sense of what tastes good, what people
want from a good Britpop band, and can only improve with age and
experience. On a scale of 1) FDA Condemned Health Hazard to 10)
Dining at a 5-star Restaurant, I give them a 5) Fit for Consumption
at a Neighborhood Potluck.
- Emily Strong
Track Listing:
1. Miracle Lemon
2. Everything Goes
3. Cupcake
4. Multicore
5. Blame
6. Sandstorm
7. Time
8. Easy
9. Use It B4 You Lose It
10. Tuned Out
11. Seventeen
 Talk
Back
e-mail the chief
Like this article?
e-mail
it to a friend!
|
Kalimoto
