Customer Reviews

Crystal Castles [Vinyl]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

- House drum patterns throughout
- Ranges from happy electro to punkish glitch to introspective house
- Strong 80's dance pulse
- Very pleasant form of bleep-bloop music w/o much ugly noise
- Like a more human / DIY version of The Knife
- Experimental compared to most indie-pop, but very poppy compared to most noise groups

It's early, but I'm already going to claim this album of the year.

Since purchasing this record, I have not been able to put it down! Know that it is definitely not for everybody... some people won't be able to stand the weird assembly of glitchy atari sounds, but it is done in such a seamless way... and it becomes reminiscent of driving at night to some underground discotheque in Europe.

Ethan and Alice are the duo behind CC, and they do not disappoint. Alice's voice mimics that of "cute little girl tries to scream and sing on garage record (a la. CSS)" but I find her voice to be very appropriate, however it may be interpreted. Sometimes screaming, sometimes lulling... and the same goes for the music. Sometimes overwhelming, often soothing.

A definite buy.

I first saw/heard of Crystal Castles when they were opening for Metric in the fall of 2007, and ever since I've been in love. Despite a crowd that was not into them they still managed to rock out and put on a show. I had never seen an opening act as good as Crystal Castles, and I'm not sure I will again. This album is unbelievable, and sort of undefinable. I like to call it Industrial Electronica Nintendo Goth Art Music. You know a band is good when they don't even need coherent sentences or words at all to make a good song, and Crystal Castles pulls this off like pros. If your taste in music leans toward the somewhat abnormal and open to anything way then Crystal Castles is for you.

There's a lot that can be said of Crystal Castles. You could call them ignorant in reference to their alleged illegal use of Trevor Brown's artwork on T-shirts and posters. You could even call them pompous for claiming to have no influences whatsoever. Call them what you choose, but you'd be foolish to say their self-titled debut is anything short of top notch new rave. Ethan Kath and Alice Glass may be reckless with their egos, but they bring the goods when it comes to their music.

Their self-titled debut, turns its face on the robotic, emotionless stereotype of electronic music and injects within it attitude and raw edge. That's in part due to the vocal styling of Alice Glass. Rather than sing effortlessly over computer-generated beats, Glass screams and pleads in a punk-like fashion through lyrics riddled of pent-up aggression and uninhibited angst. The debut does have its calmer moments, but if you are looking for an album with a consistent pace, you most certainly won't find it here. "Untrust Us" opens the album with a modestly up-tempo approach centering around two lines of Spanish, informing that cocaine isn't good for your health. Possibly a drug awareness campaign or a recognition of bad habits... who knows? The album shifts into high gear with the barely audible XXZXCUZX ME. The track sounds of a 1980s videogame, 8-bit meltdown. And as if that weren't enough to listen to, Glass' lyrics ride the line of madness. "Just because we don't feel flesh, doesn't mean we don't fear death." But fear not, because the album slows from running full speed ahead to nearly a crawl on its closing track. Tell Me What To Swallow brings the album to a haunting, almost shoe-gazing atmosphere, with its whispers, vulnerability, and overall sense of emptiness. Not quite the expected ending, but if Crystal Castles wants you to know anything, it is to expect the unexpected.

Although a bit overwhelming, Crystal Castles does successfully push the envelope of electronica while managing to be more innovative than irritating. If you're wanting something a bit more challenging and above what's on the electro/dance shelves in your favorite music store, jump into Crystal Castles. The album may lack an overall consistency in terms of pace, but it's always interesting, never dull, and unnervingly catchy.

At first I bought this and didn't take to this album it was too much electronic noise, but I heard a track at a club, Crimewave, and fell in love with the great driving 80's electronica beats, weird synth sounds, and computer altered voices. I could listen to this one over and over again and not be bored.

Some of the songs, I can't stand like Alice Practice, Xxzxcuzx Me, Love and Caring, and Through the Hosiery - way too much electronic noise for my taste.

The other standouts on this album are Courtship Dating, Good Time, Vanished, Tell Me What to Swallow. The beginning of Courtship Dating sounds like it was sampled from a bad pop song at the beginning, but as soon as you hit 22 secs the lush layering of sounds, beats, electronic noises, and intriguing lyrics are incredibly catchy. I love the enigmatic lyrics - you can barely grasp what they're trying to say. Good Times is just a catchy loop of solid 80s inspired pop kinda Missing Persons sounding without the quirky female voice - can get a little annoying with the repetition if you don't like it. Vanished is spacey, catchy, and haunting - has hints of New Order in the refrain. Tell Me What to Swallow - bare, acoustic, dark, and enchanting - hints of a darker Kate Bush.

This is another fine CD I've been unable to get out of the deck, one of the most original and thoroughly enjoyable listens of this or any year. No doubt some won't be able to get past the arcade-game samples that seem to course throughout, but they are so perfectly placed and integrated into a sound that feels totally new and daresay danceable? Well, maybe it will thrust your body into contortions somewhat reminiscent of dancing, but that's not such a bad thing. What a thrilling discovery!

Excellent album, not for everyone. Despite having a wide variety of style in their tracks, my boyfriend called it "The most irritating music he's ever heard". I personally find it very fun and fresh. If you can enjoy bass laden synth-y tracks often accompanied by very distorted vocals, give them a try.

I heard of this pair from Andy, the lead singer of Autopassion.
They didn't have an album at the time, just a myspace. The few songs that were on their page got me hooked. I bought this record the instant I new it existed. I like every song, my kids like it and my wife says it's okay. That's a good review from Mrs. 80's. They took old video game sounds and created a new sensation. If you like techno, house, industrial, or loud house music or if you are a fan of old video games you should buy this record.

I'm always on the look out for new music and direction when i stumbled across this album at Virgin megastore. It totally blew me away as it was so new and different from the music I have been listening to for such a long time.

Don't get me wrong, my taste in music is sharp (Hotel Costes, St. Germaine, Mika, depeche mode, etc), but this album is a SHARP deviation from normal conventions and rules that you appreciate the artist's creativity and skills.

Anyway big thumbs up and would love to find more music like this.

Just got it and I like very much. The best songs on the disc are those that sound like no one else, are totally unique to Crystal Castles, when the band has crafted their own sound. My favorites combine this unique quality with the best beats, decadent bleep, and chopped vox, and hence songs like Air War, Courtship Dating, Love and Caring, Through the Hosiery, and Knights are my initial favorites. Actually, Courtship Dating and Through the Hosiery are stunning.