Customer Reviews

Civilized

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With their third album, "Civilized", stellastarr* continue much in the same vein as their first and second albums. Although lead singer Shawn Christensen may be singing in a higher note than before, the music is still unmistakeably stellastarr*.

The main issue I take with the band is the fact that, unlike their contemporaries, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, White Lies, Interpol, etc., they still haven't quite found their musical direction. They have not quite been able to take from the past, and add their own spin on the old punk/new wave genre. Instead, they come across like Joy Division, The Cure and The Psychedelic Furs tossed into a blender.

That being said, "Civilized" does show some progress, just not that much, especially considering how long the band has been away. The band doesn't waste our time with bloated epic song lengths, they don't drown in slow balladry, no, they rock out, and it works for the most part. The overall result is a slightly above average effort. I just keep waiting for them to break out of this box they've put themselves into much like The Bravery have.

"Robot", "Freak Out", "Tokyo Sky", "Graffiti Eyes" and "Move On" are the better half of the disc. "Numbers", "Sonja Cries" and "Prom Zombie" are the next best tier of tracks. "Warchild" and "The People" were the weakest tracks here.

Here's how "Civilized" compares to the band's previous works:

2003 stellastarr*: Three and a Half Stars
2005 Harmonies For The Haunted: Three Stars
2009 Civilized: Three and a Half Stars

I was very much anticipating their third album and they definitely didn't disappoint. They continue to elevate their music to another level. I love their sound and their style, especially Shawn's guitar and vocals. Amanda's background vocals are way cool, too! They're a 'must-see' live, too!! A fantastic CD. Love it!!

Like their first two albums, this album isn't spectacular, but it is solid and worth a listen. Like some others, I thought the single "Graffiti Eyes" wasn't that good at first, but it really grew on me. "Tokyo Sky" is another excellent track. But the best song on the album is "Robot"...it's both spacy and catchy, and represents the band's best traits. In my opinion, "Robot" is worth the price of the album. Those three tracks are definitely the highlights, but the rest aren't bad, either. Stellastarr* isn't the most original band and they wear their influences on their sleeve, which of course means that pompous, self-important rock critics dislike them. But they definitely sound different and more original than on Harmonies For The Haunted. And it's just an enjoyable album to listen to...very upbeat and a good summer CD.

I really like this band. They write good songs and have a recognizable sound at least to these ears. Their debut is still their best but I would put this ahead of Harmonies For The Haunted. I caught them live in '04 and they put on a fantastic show. This is one fan who hopes this band continues on indefinitely.

I love Stellastarr and the first two releases were energetic, catchy and overall they were excellent albums through and through. But CIVILIZED, is lack-luster and forgettable. I usually dislike over-produced CD's, but Civilized could of used more production value and I don't know if there was a line-up change or not, but the vocals sounded different along with the overall band sound. This CD didn't suck, but I was very disappointed in this disc.

To tell the truth, this reviewer was a tad bit hesitant purchasing 'Civilized,' Stellastarr*'s first album in almost four years. Being an adoring fan of their self-titled debut and even their wonderfully sophomore effort (which was shamefully dismissed), I didn't know what to expect. Luckily it worked out to my advantage. I had no expectations whatsoever going into 'Civilized.' I didn't expect another "My Coco" or "Sweet Troubled Soul" and that was the best thing I could do because so much of 'Civilized' is unexpected, though they manage to still sound like themselves, and that's reassuring.

And though Stellastarr* has opted for returning to producer Tim O'Heir (producer of their debut album), Stellastarr* sounds fresh. Dare I say there's more energy here on 'Civilized' than any of Stellastarr*'s previous albums? Ditching the melancholy gloom and theatrics of 'Harmonies for the Haunted' for a bit more aggression, 'Civilized' comes off as edgier and a bit more fun (for better or for worse).

"Graffiti Eyes" was the obvious introduction I received, and lets just say my reception was merely lukewarm. With Christensen sounding very different (due to some throat issues) as well as the rest of the band, It was difficult for me to get into. However, after a few listens it grew on me and the song is easily one of the album's standout. Other good tracks are: "Freak Out," "Prom Zombie," "Sonja Cries," and "The People"-Civilized's true stand out (Great song). Overall, 'Civilized' presents a set of fast, solid, and fun songs that'll make any fan of Stellastarr*'s previous works glad they bought this new album without any buyer's remorse.
***1/2

I have not heard this band before and was pleasantly surpised. They have a unique sound, including vocals, and I can say that I liked most songs on the album, which is unusual for me. Nice beats and music that kept me interested. I'll keep my eye out for more from them in the future.

New York was definitely the place to be in the early-mid part of the `00s, as Brooklyn foursome stellastarr* could tell you. Thrown alongside fellow islanders the Rapture and Interpol, among numerous others, into a collective "new wave/post-punk revival," stellastarr* fell prey to what the rapid over-saturation of the scene, unable to replicate the success of their first (and best) album. Sophomore effort Harmonies for the Haunted was the death-knell of their short major-label experience, and after four years haunting East Side bars and rehabilitating vocalist Shawn Christensen's versatile pipes, they're back for more on their own label.

Back for more of the same, that is. Whereas "change-or-die" became a wise maxim to adapt by bands (often unfairly) tagged with the "post-punk" label, stellastarr* have rarely switched things up. If anything, Civilized is their most potent distillation of their sparkling, up-tempo bubbly new wave, a radio-ready dart aimed at the commercial jugular. stellastarr* know how to do epic pop: "My Coco" from their debut is easily one of the songs of the decade, pulling all their strengths (note-perfect vocal harmonies, excellent rhythm work, a spiraling guitar solo) together into a monumental sing-a-long effort. Three albums in, however, they're still having trouble duplicating that perfect storm.

A major breaking point with first-time stellastarr* listeners has always been vocalist Shawn Christensen's rather unorthodox style, where he is just as likely to hum along in a baritone as he is to jump out to a ringing falsetto. Throat damage, however, has caused him to limit his range to the higher registers, and thus Civilized is spared many of the abrupt yelps that characterized earlier albums and generally makes him more tolerable. On a song like "Warchild," his slightly more restrained style flows along with the music rather than clashing; on something like "Numbers," however, his frenetic vocals nearly make a parody of themselves.

Luckily for Christensen, he has the bassist Amanda Tannen and the rest of the band to fall back on. Although an excellent backup vocalist, Tannen is tragically underused here - cuts like first single "Graffiti Eyes" break the boundary from merely good to irrepressibly catchy on the back of her silvery "woah-woahs" and "ba-ba-baas." Guitar rave-up "Prom Zombie" is even better, a chugging piece of Cars-esque retro-pop featuring Tannen and Christensen feeding off each other's energy in a revelatory duet. It's the silly high point of a frothy pop record.

More energetic than their previous efforts, Civilized kicks things into high gear from the get-go and wipes anything slow off the table. Songs like "Freak Out" and "People" is the kind of by-the-numbers new wave rock stellastarr* could do in their sleep, so it's a delight to hear the band switch things up. Out-of-place opener "Robot" does exactly that, mixing ethereal vocals with a burning, distorted guitar line and an incisive beat, while the exuberant, fuzzed-out dream-pop of "Move On" takes the opposite tack to dazzling effect.

For all their admirable efforts, there is nothing here as immediately fetching as "My Coco," and Civilized as a whole comes off as just what it was no doubt intended to be - a pop record of little import, one that is perfect for cruising down a summer highway but nothing particularly earth-shattering. Exceedingly well produced to a glossy sheen, it is, for all its charm and hooks, a merely adequate record from a band that once showed serious promise. Then again, who cares when you're having as much fun as these four clearly are?

I like it. I have just their first album & this one. There is a bit of a new twist to the sound.

It helps to have seen them live (must have been in 2003). I'd enjoy seeing the show supporting this album.

This is a great album. Do yourself a favor and buy all their albums. Please do a show in Wisconsin!!