Having read a couple of other reviews for this album, I am setting myself the challenge of being the first person to review this album without comparing it to Pennybridge Pioneers. Let's see how that goes...
For some reason, it always takes a few listens for me to get into the groove of this album. Once I'm "in the zone" and the stereo is cranked, this CD becomes a brilliantly enveloping and powerful experience. However, it takes a while for the subtleties to shine, and first impressions are that it barely differs from generic commercial rock offerings of Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, Good Charlotte, etc.
There is no such confusion with the opening though, which is kick-arse. Machine 15 is a simple yet effective headbanger to get you in the mood. The perfect start.
At the other end of the spectrum is Detox. The stadium rock sound does not mix at all well with the homely ditty style. Add in too many repetitions of the twee chorus, and the result is a train-wreck. Maybe it could be considered just a throwaway pop song, but Millencolin are better than this.
Other offenders seem to sound like a Good Charlotte, Kings of Leon or Foo Fighters B-side, by this I mean uninspired 2000s pop-rock. To name and shame, these songs are Broken World, Come On, Brand New Game (with particularly cliched lyrics) and Turnkey Paradise.
Danger For Stranger is how it should be done. Sure, it's pretty formulaic, but they've executed it perfectly. And its bouncy energy is infectious. Great fun. (Ok, I'll admit, maybe part of the appeal for me is that I don't understand its lyrics...)
Recording quality is disappointing in several areas: a harsh and messy sound for the cymbals, a distracting overuse of stereo panning and the dreaded Loudness Wars resulting in the choruses feeling squashed. On the bright side, there's much less distortion compared with Millencolin's previous album and it does have a nice "meaty" rock sound.
Vicious Circle starts off sounding a bit uninspired, like the offenders above. But then all is forgiven with the chorus! This is vintage Millencolin brilliance- desperately empassioned with lyrics that feature slightly awkward phrasing and are bittersweet yet uplifting. Brilliant.
Who's Laughing Now and Route One are both solid new-age "grunty" Millencolin songs. The chorus of Route One is a particular highlight.
As for Ducks and Drakes, well any songs with a title similar to Duckpond is off to a great start in my book! And this delivers. The classic Millencolin qualities of mysterious and slightly awkward lyrics are still there to be enjoyed, now complemented by the maturity of more sophisticated arrangements and a big sound. And, as the icing on the cake, a nice use of strings. Something old, something new- perfectly blended.
Similarly, Saved By Hell is a wonderful new direction. Highlights include the brilliant contrast between sections, choruses of headbanging goodness, touchingly gentle verses, great lyrics and a grand sense of scale. Again, the strings are used very nicely, which is rare for a rock band. Rather than cheesy cameos, their countermelodies sit perfectly as an integrated part of the song. Kudos. It is a new string in Millencolin's bow (terrible pun- sorry!).
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