Conductor

The Comas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 24, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Yep Roc Records
• ASIN: B0002MHEOG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,912 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

MAGNET

"Conductor deals out some of the year’s finest post-apocalyptic pop songs: ‘Moonrainbow’, ‘Oh God’ and ‘Tonight on the WB’."

Product Description

"With his fuzzbox and tear ducts both maxed out, Andy Herod scripts one of the year’s loveliest breakup dramas," – SPIN "Ten Best Albums You Didn’t Hear"

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Conduct me!, September 7, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conductor (Audio CD)

Let's get this out of the way -- the Comas sound like the mellower little brother of the Shins, the softer cousin of Modest Mouse. So fans of those bands will undoubtedly like the folky-psychedelic sound of the Comas' third album, "Conductor," a mixture of dreamy pop and aching rock.

It starts off slow and steady, with an almost jazzy melody that melts into the ominous "Science of Your Mind." It's followed up by a stream of gently dreamy pop -- the catchy "Moonrainbow," soaring off into the ethereal "Last Transmission," and the gently plaintive "Dirty South." And "Falling" sounds like it was recorded inside a metal drum, backed by an ethereal little melody.

But early on, the Comas demonstrate that they are not just a dreampop band, with vaguely fuzzy rock like "Tonight on the WB." Some songs fizz like an old soda, like "Invisible Drugs" and "Employment." A small exception to the rock-pop mix is "Hologram," which sounds a lot like a folk song, heavy on the acoustic guitar and steady percussion. It's a track that grounds the rest of the album, if just barely. Most of it is still floating.

Reportedly "Conductor" was inspired by all those viewings of "Dark City," a movie that can definitely warp the way you see the world. For a few hours, at least. The album is far less harsh than that film, bringing to mind delicate futuristic landscapes, moonlit planets, and dark skies that happen to have stars in them.

Their music is constantly surprising, especially in the final track -- a single wavering note erupts into a roaring rocker. Guitar and percussion are put to good use, whether it's a bright, childlike melody or a Pixies-style rocker. And the bass does especially well, giving us plenty of droning fuzz that adds a rock edge to even the poppier numbers.

Andy Herod has one of those rare voice that sounds otherworldly no matter what he's singing about. And you can hear some real emotion under the I'm-a-bit-stoned vocals -- reportedly some of the songs were written about his ex-girlfriend, Michelle Williams (yes, the gal from "Dawson's Creek"). That accounts for the dismally romantic tone. "I love it when you fall apart/You turn it into higher art/we see it in your eyes.../you're so rich with meaning."

The Comas provide a masterpiece in their third album "Conductor." Though it's reminiscent of the Shins and Modest Mouse, the Comas prove that they are the only ones on their private planet.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Underappreciated Talent, July 6, 2005

By 

AngryChairr "Rob" (Reading, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conductor (Audio CD)

Much will likely be made of the influences on this album. It will range from the Smashing Pumpkins to Superchunk. But when I listen I hear kind of a bizarre mixture of Jimmy Eat World and '90s alt-rock act Hum. In many ways the Comas actually bear a striking resembalance to Hum. Conductor shares a penchant for science-fiction lyricism that Hum reveled in. There's also the fuzzed out rockers in "Tonight on the WB" and "Invisible Drugs." But most telling is "Oh God," which sounds like it was pulled right from You'd Prefer An Astronaut.

This isn't to demean the Comas because they write excellect music. I compare them to Hum because there's a strange resembalance and both bands are/were supremely negelected by mainstream radio. "Invisible Drugs" is a song that is good but also seems as if it should fit in on rock radio where we're still feeling the wrath of grunge-inspired wanna-bes like Seether, and the psuedo-metal of Poppa Roach. For whatever reason, though, the Comas aren't getting the attention they deserve. And that's a shame because the songs offered are extremely compelling.

The two best here are probably the synth-heavy "The Last Transmission" and the understated "Oh God." Neither are heavy in their approach, but they both make great use of atmosphere. The former sounds like some beautifully lucid dream, where you are floating among the clouds. The latter is a downbeat love song that leaves you in a druggy haze of colors and sounds. Together they form a beautiful sort of narrative. Love brings you up in a mass of confusion and anticipation, and then it falls apart not in a smoldering fury, but a silent whimper that allows you to remember how good it was when you look back.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's Ok., February 10, 2006

By 

Matthew Culver "mhze" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conductor (Audio CD)

I heard Moon Rainbow from a compilation one of my friends made and loved it. I bought it. I am somewhat pleased with it. The Comas sound a lot like Catherine from back in the 90's "Moon Rainbow" is a great song as well as "Dirty South" and "Oh God". Some really good Steel Pedal guitar work. The problem with this album is it doesn't keep my interest all the way through. I seem to drift off and think of other things when this CD is playing. Still there are good songs here. This is the only CD that I have purchased, I might some day go back and revisit some of their previous work, but not anytime soon.