hans says:

that’s the thing. you NEED to see them live. it’s unlikely to make any sense otherwise.

Jon says:

This is a very unusual review – critiquing the press release and Myspace almost more than the music itself. I don’t think this is underproduced at all, certainly not compared to the endless march of guitar-guitar-bass-drums rock records that are shunted from new release shelf to bargain bin every year.

I also have to say I’m deeply uncomfortable about the attitude engendered in the phrase “even after reading the accompanying press release it’s hard to pick a single out of the album… which isn’t really a good thing”. To insist on a single is to miss the point of many great albums, and furthermore, to expect the press release to play this role is to view music (listenership, and specifically, criticism) in a particularly shallow – and some might say unfulfilling – light. This idea exists very prominently in the realm of through-the-motions music journalism – a world where ‘critics’ slavishly work their way through endless mountains of CD cases and accompanying press releases, searching for words to reflect what the presser tells them, and peppering the result with a weak sprinkling of a personal opinion. I’m almost certain this is the world you are trying to avoid by starting this blog.

Of course, you are entirely entitled to dislike this record, and your opinion of the record is not what I take issue with.

You will note that there are countless incredible bands worldwide whose press releases do not make the cut with you; whose Myspace influences are infinitely more farcical than the Ramps’. However, were you to ignore these bands or discredit them based on those factors, you’d be missing a lot of amazing music.

All because they didn’t have a great publicist… do you see what I’m saying?