Customer Reviews

Ambulance Ltd

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I saw these guys play "Heavy Lifting" on Conan and was blown away. I bought the cd the next day and continue to return to it almost daily. This is a massively underrated cd with some of the most unique, original songs I've heard in a long time. If you're looking for something similar to Velvet Underground, the Beatles, or even the Pixies (their slower songs), you will love this album. The entire album is easy to listen to and I found no song on it that could be labeled as filler. Standout tracks for me are: tracks 1-7 and the strong closer "Young Urban," though all tracks are above average. Don't let this cd get lost among the mountains of crap circulating out there. Pick it up... you'll be impressed.

The Brooklyn based Ambulance Ltd. is the current band of the moment in the Big Apple and I caught their act at Rothko's on Suffolk St. recently. Like their NYC predecessors, Ambulance plays well crafted pop music with the studied cool and irony that has defined quintessential New York rock and roll, since the rise of the Velvets in the mid-1960s. Their swirling, shimmering guitar dialog recalls that of Kevin Shields whose exquisite use of guitar distortion became the trademark sound of My Bloody Valentine in the 1990s. It would not be accurate, however, to place Ambulance in the legion of shoegazing bands that My Bloody Valentine spawned in the mid 1990s. The drum and bass section of Ambulance is far too muscular to allow the guitars to drift into the transcendental figure eight circular guitar crossfire patterns that My Bloody Valentine used so effectively to mezmerize their audiences.

There is a motherlode of well calculated hooks that draw the listener in, but Ambulance, like their hometown peers the Strokes, stay far enough left of center on the artistic Bell Curve to avoid sell-out backlash from bohemian critics. What Ambulance lacks is the well defined line-of-sight that bands, like the Strokes have crafted into an artistic vision. This will emerge as Ambulance Ltd. gains experience as a performing unit. Ambulance will have the inevitable rendezvous with destiny and this talented band will soon be under contract to a major record label, barring any number of unforseen disasters that confront an embryonic rock band. Ambulance has all the earmarks of the rare pedigree of a great rock bands, but greater bands have stumbled for lack of artistic direction. It's...uh, like...the vision thing, ya know?

In all fairness to Ambulance, I confess that their CD is among my favorite releases, in an otherwise moribund year (2004) for "alternative" or independent music releases. I struggled mightly over giving "Ambulance Ltd" a 4 or 5 star rating and when I realized this band is probably capable of eclipsing the music of this first release with their next album, I gave it 4 stars. My illogical logic is based upon my unreasonably high expectations Ambulance Ltd's future, and in the best of all worlds, I could give it the 4.8 stars it deserves.

Finally I notice a couple of negative reviewers insinuated that those who write a positive review of this album are probably associated with the band. For them, here's my personal statement of disclosure (Journalism 101): I have am not and have never been associated with Ambulance or their record label, either in a business or personal relationship.

Just a straight-up great rock album. Catchy licks and lyrics. You will love this album if you buy it. Saw them live twice, including last night, and they performed a really tight set. I think the first song -- all instrumental -- is one of their best live songs, because of the way it builds and by the end is just blowing the roof off the place.

Ambulance Ltd. is the latest New York band that I have seen that has some promise. I saw them in their early days, and they have become a greater band over time. They are also one of the best looking bands I have seen. They had to kick one member out because he wasn't cutting the mustard. They take all their hard rock influences and make this new hybrid of music. They came out with an EP a while ago. This showed that they had some good songs. After tours with Placebo and Suede, Ambulance Ltd. have improved to become a major league band. They are already well known in Europe. Their instrumental that begins the album "Yoga Means Union" goes in five different directions at once. "Primitive" is a soft rock song that builds and builds into a big chorus. "Anecdote" and "Heavy Lifting" are more folky and jazzy. The voice of Marcus Congleton sounds especially unique. They do a cover of "Ocean" by The Velvet Underground, which is appropriate. "Sugar Pill" is overall the best song. It's a smooth and quiet funk vibe. For a New York band they sound the opposite of some slick garage rock band. Ambulance Ltd. are the sound of the sophisticated music of the future. Some bands are trying to be different so they stand out, and they are trying too hard. I feel that Ambulance Ltd. is being themselves entirely. They are more "right now" then any band.

As far as debuts go, this isn't quite up to par with Led Zeppelin's rookie album and it doesn't match the Stone Roses first opus, but then again I don't care and I'm guessing this NYC quartet doesn't either.

After opening with a gamut-running instrumental, the listener gets the swanky bar rock of 'Primitive' as it starts unassumingly before swelling to a thrusting climax and fading out. The cocky bar-rock of 'Primitive' is immediately counterbalanced with 'Anecdote' a sweet folky ballad that sonds like a Jackson Browne outtake, but for all its sugary melody the lyrical sentiments are slightly stinging. 'Heavy Lifting' is a teriffic pounding anthem that would be better if not for the cooing end that feels tacked on.

'Stay Where You Are' is barely audible in the beginning but if the listener waits out the first two minutes s/he is rewarded with a lovely and unforgettable ethereal guitar line that is surrounded by sparse-yet-effective drumming and plaintive lyrics. The song eventually builds to a sun-shrouded summit that is remiscent of Built to Spill's quieter moments or Travis if they sounded like you wanted them to. 'Swim' is a moody experiment that fits in well with the disc's darker sounds. It seems like a waste of a track until the song reaches the soaring (but brief) choru, and then it all makes sense.

'Sugar Pill' is a lazy summer song, and it would be better suited to swap titles with Michigan or Swim as it references the lake state and evokes watery imagery in a song so delicate it seems that it may fall apart at many moment, and it's wonder and testament to the band that it never does.

"Ophella' doesn't really do it for me, but 'Young Urban' comes back as a shoegazer-ish album "closer" that flexes some of Ambulance LTD's musical muscle. The hidden tracks are decent, but don't really add anything different to this EP. Fortunately for us all they don't detract from it either, and the listener is left with a solid and enjoyable debut that burrows its way further and further to the inner ear with each successvie listen. Though they don't do it on this album, Ambulance LTD. show that they have the potential to deliver a masterpiece in the very near future.

I'm not going to get all elaborate like some reviewers who really don't know what they are talking about. What I will say is that this is a phenomenal album from a band that has too many influences to name, but still manages a remarkably original album. They are from New York, but don't have the typical "New York sound". The opener is probably the weakest track, but is by no means a bad song. It is an instrumental, that as it goes it builds up to a great climax. From "primitive" on is 5 stars plus the rest of the way. There are too many tracks to name as the highlights, but my personal favorite is "stay where you are". There is a 2 minute intro on the album version that is not on the e.p. and the sound is much cleaner. Other than that I would say just listen to the samples, and if it does'nt grab you, I would question your taste in music!!(especially #s 3 and 5) If I could give you a no risk disk garranty, this album would definatly be on the list. Buy it, you will not regret your purchase. (p.s. I would recommend seeing them live if you get a chance. They rock their songs...(surprising if you heard them)

The opening of this album is incredible. Its not very often that a band just plays good music with no lyrics. I couldn't hear one song that I would consider a "filler".
This album is the best I've bought all year and would suggest it to anyone that is into music with no specific genre.
Two BIG thumbs up.

It has a "Brit-Pop" sound, similar to the best of Blur and Pulp, but with an American feel. It's a notch down from "Interpol" but a few above "The Stills," but in that similar vein, although less murky, more lit up. The best song is "Ophilia." They, along with "The Shins", deserve to be huge.

Ambulance LTD

Ambulance, to put it in basic terms are a New York band with a difference. Rather than conforming to the omni-present New York hip-hop scene, or joining the abundance of outlandish grunge groups that swarm venues across New York; Ambulance have decided to do things their own way. Their debut album mixes the mellow, upbeat harmonies of bands such as the coral, the velvet underground and to a lesser extent the thrills, with darker more melancholy sounds. This peculiar mixture or literary prowess is echoed throughout the album, with certain tracks choosing to stay far more tuneful (anecdote) whilst other tracks (primitive) hold a much deeper tone; however both are equally as effective as one another.

From the beautifully crafted opening instrumental through to the finger clicking, foot tapping final track (Young Urban) this album is packed to the rafters with character. Even the more poppy, linear tracks such as anecdote retain a sense of intellect which resonates more so in Ophelia, a track with perpetual depth. The real gems in this album are Primitive (the way I treat you), Ophelia and the peculiar Swim, which manages to bring some amplitude to an altogether calm album.

What really sets ambulance apart from other bands (both alternative and indie) is their attitude towards their music. They aren't desperate to make it big, nor are they writing music to impress people, they are simply writing music because they love it. This relaxed attitude is personified in the track `Primitive (the way I treat you)', from the crunch of the bite on a potato chip to the soft clicking of the fingers which lingers throughout the track, primitive is a relaxed work of art; although crafted so masterfully that you find yourself feeling like you know the song less than halfway through, and this ability to effortlessly write quality music makes ambulance a real wonder to behold.

Getting hold of their material isn't the easiest job in the world, but take my word for it, it is most definitely worth it.

I love retro pop and rock of all kinds, sometimes even more then the music they are emulating. I love the dance punk and eighties revoution. I love the seventies and sixties revolution as well. This band falls like a mix between early 90's garage and 60's garage. There are hints of the Pixes, Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, The Stooges, The Byrds, The Beatles, and many others.

This Cd itself sounds like a lighter mix of Rooney and Kings of Leon, only a lot smoother and more gentle. "Primitve" is awesome and a bit bluesy with it's little piano cord. "Anecdote" is also beautiful, a bit like The Beatles and The Byrds mixed with latter John Lennon.

The whole Cd is a great Debut, a splendid mix of influential retro sounds that make up an intriguing whole. I only hope that in further releases they refine their sound to a more definite edge, that will help them become more individual and less like a tribute to the sounds of old, no not copy cats like Jet not even close, but more individuality would be a great change for future albums.