Chandeliers in the Savannah

Neon Blonde

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2005)
• Original Release Date: September 13, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dim Mak Records
• ASIN: B000AMJDAG
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #69,885 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Neon Blonde is the alter ego of the Blood Brothers. Unlike the often frantic and frenzied songs of the duo's other band, Neon Blonde is a much more eclectic, dancing, and melodious venture that touches on the art-rock tunes of Brian Eno and early David Bowie. The Seattle band's Dim Mak debut is a collision of elements - rickety old drum machines, chiming guitars, pugilistic drum breaks, slinking pianos, and falsetto wail. Neon Blonde brings a refreshing experimental edge to their songs, which results in a charming pastiche of styles and sounds. The lead single, "Headlines", released earlier this year on Dim Mak as a 4-song CD EP and 12-inch EP, is simply infectious. Other tracks hearken to the cocaine-claustrophobic "Low"-era Bowie with soaring synthesizer lines cascading over jagged guitar lines, as well as the epic falsetto balladry of Freddie Mercury with the effect-wizardry of early Roxy Music.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars unique, inspiring, wonderful, February 8, 2006

By	jared bates "alt_nut" (Auckland, NZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

An eclectic electro/dance rock, that is nothing like The Blood Brothers.. except for his voice. Though in this case, the voice is more balanced out, much easier to enjoy. I really only had one problem while listening to it, and that was while up loud on my stereo, it sounded sort of mono, coz of the drum machine/synthesizer.. it is best enjoyed through headphones. The music is catchy though, and they seem to have effortlessly combined dance/rock/techno into a collection of songs that will have you wanting more.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars That prickly sensation you get from being hit in the face with a black cactus, December 12, 2005

By	Luke Rounda "ThreeStarSmash.com" (Lawrence, KS) - See all my reviews

"Chandeliers in the Savannah" is a very odd animal. It slinks around on a mix of drums, mechanized beats and brooding piano one moment and thrashes with claws to your face the next, like a shrew with rabies. Musically, the album is much the same, melding pop, dance and thrash-rock sensabilities with garden variety insanity. It's as if you're listening to an MTV camera man being mauled by said shrew.

I like it.

My personal favorite is "Crystal Beaches Never Turned Me On," which juxtaposes a throbbing jungle beat against diseased piano, synth and guitar. Lay out a typically damaged-jet-engine Whitney vocal over this, replete with some "ooh oohs," and you have a truly unique and morbidly catchy tune.

Catchier than the Blood Brothers, every bit as rhythmically and musically informed, and above all else, every bit as trailblazing, Neon Blonde is, hands-down, the finest two piece band since Local H (no, not the White Stripes). That the mass public regards music like this as noise is a compliment. The finest predators don't rustle the trees in the jungle until it's too late to escape. So it is with this, the most unpopular (and unyielding) collection of pop music to be released in 2005.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A revolution... kind of..., September 23, 2005

By	Sexface (crystal city) - See all my reviews

This is, hands down, my favorite cd of all time. I'm not just saying that in the ignorant sense every teenager does when they hear something new that they like. I mean that this cd is the greatest thing to happen to music, ever. It is COMPLETELY original. I will give you $20 right now if you can accurately compare it to any other band in existance.
Every track on this album is completely unique unto itself. Memories of the songs hold more than just a beat, but also color. The various moods and sounds create dazzling imagery. It's just unfortunate that a project like this won't influence all music. At the same time though, if it were popular... I probably wouldn't like it. I'm sure in time I'll become very tired of the songs on this album, but it will always be one of the best cd's ever produced in my oppinion. Johnny Whitney is truely a visionary.

Consider this band if you like The Blood Brothers, random 80s music, or just have a taste for the obscure.