(Warp/EMI)

NYC punk-funk combo fail to add anything new to the mix.

There is simultaneously so much and so little to say about a band like !!!, that it's hard to know where to begin. My original idea was to write this review based around the idea that they are the musical equivalent of an overly earnest, beardy poli-sci/lit major who tries to impress girls by quoting Bukowski and Noam Chomsky at them, but instead ends up pissing himself after one too many beers at the campus pub. There was more, including some funny stuff about premature ejaculation, but I'll spare you. The point is that writing about !!!'s new album proved way more fun than actually listening to it. Myth Takes offers the familiar bad puns (the title track, Bend Over Beethoven), some surprisingly effective melodic moments (Heart Of Hearts, A New Name), and a lot of songs that sound simply like hastily-photocopied versions of Talking Heads circa the early 80s. Ultimately, Myth Takes falls into the same trap as Bloc Party's recent second album. While it's hard to fault either on a technical level – both are crisp and well-produced, with disco hi-hats and tricksy production flourishes moving things along at a fairly even clip – both are so uninspiringly, heard it all before-ingly competent that it's almost impossible to imagine anyone experiencing a genuine emotional response to the music within. Still good to cut a rug to, though.

***

ALASDAIR DUNCAN

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*