Customer Reviews

Demonstration of Intellectual Property

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I accidentally stumbled across Mellowdrome on Orlando Jones tonight (actually, I wasn't paying attention to the show at all....I had wandered off and was drawn back by the music I heard). What a happy accident. :)

Yes, there is some young adult angst (I believe another reviewer review referred to it as something 18 year olds would dig), but I'm 32 and feel human angst quite often. This EP appeals to that part of my psyche.

I hear no Smashing Pumpkins, although I do hear something reminiscent of Radiohead and The Verve. I fell in love with the EP, easily aquired for free from their website---think "bandname".com (yep, ten bucks says this review will never make it to the page thanks to that little tip). Quite simply put, I'm addicted, and up way too late thanks to listening to it over and over.

It's amazing to know that this is the result of one guy, some equipment, and a bedroom. Yowza!!! It would be well worth $5.95, and I have no doubt that after the debut on Orlando, we'll be seeing more of Mellowdrone. This makes me happy. :)

This is a truly beautiful piece of work. The only thing more satisfying than listening to this CD is seeing Jonathan play live, which I recommend highly if you get the chance. Until then though, pick up this CD, it's worth the five bucks by a large margin.

This is actually mellowdrone's 3rd ep and it was recorded in a bedroom by one man. mellowdrone is a full band now and they have a full length album titled "Box" coming out January 24th, 2006. If you can find this EP or "Go Get 'Em Tiger", then you should get them. If you search well, you can find them for $5 or so. Comparisons made by other reviewers are way off.

An excellent EP: beautiful, cohesive, and with an endless replay value. Johnathan Bates accurately self-describes his music as feminine, with sexual undertones. Brooding and subtle, but not requiring any effort to enjoy. It elegantly manages to be depressed, intellectual music without ever sliding into the disgusting realm of whiny self-pity. It can be pretentious at times, but never unbearably or unjustifiably so.

Take note, Phantom Planet lovers: This is one of Phantom Planet's all-time favorite bands.

The best ep I've heard in years...I highly recommend this

This album is awesome...lush, experimental, and mellow...in the vein of radiohead by way of a little early Smashing Pumpkins....Unbelievable lyrics....definitely worth 6 dollars...though the EP is only 18 minutes long and contains 6 songs (5 whole songs, one short instrumental)....

More like a top-quality demo than an actual release, A Demonstration of Intellectual Property blows by fast, belying its detached title with 18 minutes of very passionate brooding. This only feels like a demo because the strong song sequence begs for an album-length outing, but then, its length makes it easy to play over and over and hear its subtlety.

This is so well put together that it's surprising to learn that it was "lovingly recorded in a bedroom" by one guy, Jonathan Bates. We used to call that approach lo-fi, but this is a big production with such professional playing that it could be a major label release by an A&R project. The ballad "Beautiful Day" is spooky instead of drippy, a canned drum track sounds retro-natural instead of dance-pop synth. "No More Options" is pretty but uses noise to prove that it's nobody's fool.

It's a shame that hardly anyone is going to hear this. Released by ArtistDirect, a company best known for its web site, A Demonstration of Intellectual Property's silkscreened jewel case and transparent plastic disc are gorgeous but prohibitively expensive to manufacture, especially for a short record of music that lists at only $5.98 (you can get it from Amazon for significantly less). Definitely get this.

Ric Dube
Junkmedia.org Review

Mellowdrone is the brainchild of Jonathan Bates, who is genius aurally. He fuses sweeping melodic tones with twisted and chaotic lyrics that rip you apart. Every song on this CD is worth more than mere money...mellowdrone is simply phenomonal music and you can only get 'No More Options' and 'Bitelip' on this CD, so buy it!

Just an ironic little rock band from where ever they may be. Fueled by guitars, sometimes acoustic and occaisonally a bit abrasive, but layered with electronic elements that conjour an image of agressively sarcastic Canadians invading a trip-hop loungue. However, it's not a novelty or comedy album, it's good music, in a few tracks actually sounding somewhere close to Interpol, other moments sounding more like Brad Sucks. May be labeled CD-Single, but it comes with 6 entire nifty tracks!

You can wave it at your friends because you're more alternative than they are.

passionate record.
if you see this guy live, you will love him and appreciate him. a GREAT live performer. many musicians sing and play....sure,...but they lack passion. this guy's got it. GO SEE HIM! lovely music is what he makes best.
track "pretty boy" in his next album is is by far the greatest song he's done. i couldn't possibly fathom any song more beautiful than "tinylittle" but i was wrong. his next album is even better than a demonstration of intellectual property.