Customer Reviews

Culture

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i'd say 9 out of the 13 songs here are awesome. this is a great album. a different drum really does a great job of releasing top notch synth pop/rock. "maybe late i will fall" is a special song to me - anyone can relate to the lyrics if they're falling in love-. other standout tracks are " limelight" and "stay". and the way they used Roxette's "it must have been love" lyrics in "my wonder" is brilliant. this band is gonna go a long way. the production is perfect and the songs are memorable. the only way i can descibe it is pet shop boys at their best--but better.

This is definatly a fantastic album. They have similarities to the likes of Pet Shop Boys, but keep their own originality with the modern synth driven songs. Most of the tracks are very upbeat and happy. There are a few ballads type songs and a few mid tempo tracks. Think of them as the Pet Shop Boys for the new Millennium.

Definatly a great unique style of modern synthpop

I bought a lot of new and back catalog Synth Pop albums last year, and this is without a doubt one of my favourites. It is often in my CD Player, a long with Neuropas Born (see my recommendation). Rename are a highly polished act, and all songs are very catchy and likeable (there is not one duff song on the whole CD, and you get 13 of them). It is true they are similar to the Pet Shop Boys at their best, but they have their own unique sound, and you will like them if you like PSB, Erasure, Neuropa, Mesh and any 80's pop.

Here goes with my individual review of each track (but remember I am just a music fan and not a highly trained musician):

1) Maybe Later I will Fall - A great start. Powerful synths over a hip hop style beat. Soaring vocals singing about Love and the apprehension it brings.

2) Something Painful Must Have Happened - Again a great beat, and plenty of variety in the synths, similar to early PSB. Catchy lyrics, especially the chorus which builds up to a deeply almost spoken rendition of the song title.

3) Compromise Letter - Deep pounding bass, and catchy vocals. The song slows down in the middle and then builds back up with great catchy synths pounding away.

4) You Don't Deserve My Love - The first single released by Rename, which is also worth picking up. A deeply pounding beat, with piano style synths. Marcus Geltners vocals are exceptional on this track, ocassionally with some echo, making this one of my favourite tracks. Hearing this track alone made me by the whole CD, and I wasn't dissapointed.

5) Me Versus You - This in my opinion is very similar to the Pet Shop Boys, and one of my least favourite tracks on the CD. Marcus vocals are very similar to Neil Tennants, but the vocals go well with the song.

6) Heaven Forever - A little slower, with romantic vocals and dreamy synths. A great song for singing along to, especially the chorus. Towards the end, the vocals are almost whispered, before the song builds back up. I like the way this song just stops at the end.

7) Walking Down the Streets - This one has quite an annoying beat, which you will either love or hate. It is my least favourite song on the CD, as I feel it chops and changes too much, and does not go anywhere. But I appreciate all the different sounds that make up this song.

8) Everyone you Talk to - This song is a bit different, and I like it. Again deep bass, with lots of synths. The vocals aren't as catchy as some of the other songs, but they fit this song perfectly.

9) My Wonder (It must have been Love 2004) - Remember Roxette. Well the lyrics from their hit song are used to great effect in this track, but with the chorus replaced by Renames own lyrics. A great pop song, short but sweet.

10) Stay (Don't Tell Me You'll Leave Me) - Another great song with deep pounding synth beats, and catchy lyrics, particularly the chorus. You'll keep singing, Stay - stay forever, after this one has finished.

11) When I have the Blues - the bass on this will shake your room, but it's not a fast beat, but quite a slow tempo. You'll be tapping your foot to this one, or bobbing your head.

12) Limelight - another thumping beat on this one, and lots of different synths. The vocals change style throughout, but the chorus is very catchy, with almost trance like music, and you will definitely find yourself singing along. Again I like the instrumental part where the beat gradually builds back up to the chorus. Another one of my favourites on the CD.

13) In Different Things - A great way to finish the CD. A nice slower beat, with piano style synths, and great vocals.

Conclusion: Another superb release from A Different Drum, and one of my best albums of 2004. Order it quick as the first 500 CDs have a free 6 track CD (called Sub-culture) containing bonus tracks and remixes.

This album is really great for a debut effort. The CD is packed with great catchy songs, good melodies and smooth synth programming and production. The CD reminds me of Erasure's work between the time of their Innocents and Chorus releases, or also early Pet Shop Boys from the Please or Actually albums. I would classify several of the songs on this CD as earworms. The songs "Maybe Later I will fall", "Limelight", "My Wonder" and "You don't deserve my love" are a few of the gems on this album. Definitely worth picking up.

This is another great disc that is definately worth checking out with a blend of slower and upbeat tracks that deserves radio-play.Limelight was the first song i ever heard off a sampler from a Different Drum and was hooked from the get go.There is great vocals and hooks that will get you energize and moving.It's a cd you can enjoy at home or in the car.Check it out!You can't go wrong and for those who love New Wave/Synthpop it's worth a listen.

Rename is another great synthpop band.Vocals sound a bit like the pet shop boys.These songs are very well put together synths,beats and vocals along with melodies that you cant help humming along or just plain getting up and dancing madly around the living room.Rename is keeper for those synthpop heads or even for those just starting out.

Rename - touching thoughtful vocals, definitely club worthy. In a similar space as the Echoing Green. Favorite tracks are You Don't Deserve My Love, Me Versus You, and Stay. Check it out!!

Rename delivers great smooth melodic synth-pop with this CD. The style follows suit with traditional synthpop, somewhere between the depth of Depeche Mode and the medolies and dance feel of Erasure. Yet they have a style all of their own. Most of the music on the CD is upbeat and danceable, but there are a few mellower tracks in there too, making it a very well rounded and well produced complete album.

All in all, it's a great debut showing for this promising new act! Really looking forward to future releases from these guys! You should check out this CD in the meantime. Amazon.com has a couple of their songs from the album available for download, including "Maybe Later I Will Fall", which is a great showing for the band and representative of what you can expect from the rest of the album.

I hope this was helpful.

Thoughtful, fun and melodic. Get up and dance to the sonorous songs!!!

Bernie

A new release from ADD, Rename is a top class act. The vocals are a familiar style to any synthpop fan but different enough to sound new. The programming and lyrics are top notch. The songs run the gamut from the strong powerful sounds of "Maybe Later I Will Fall" and "Heaven Forever" to the enticing, slower "You Don't Deserve My Love". Songs like the darker and slower "Everyone You Talk To" show the breadth of the group.

"You Don't Deserve My Love" is my favorite song off the album one that will stay at the top of my list for a long time.

The whole album is very cohesive and will keep me spinning it for many days to come.