Don't Try This at Home

Laptop | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 6, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Gammon
• ASIN: B000093FIE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #715,737 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Critically acclaimed 2003 CD from Laptop ('Bowie meets Beck' said NME). Gammon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Throwback to the 80s Synthpop, November 13, 2003

By 

A. Seuthe (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Don't Try This at Home (Audio CD)

This is the third release from former music video director Jesse Hartman aka "Laptop" - so named because his early albums were said to be entirely produced on an IBM think pad. Laptop once again borrows from and reinvents synth-grooves from the 1980s and structures them into sarcastic, yet outgoing ditties.

Because of the hints of glam rock 'cooler than thou' songwriting, none of songs sink particularly deep. Most of the songs bemoan how hard it is to hip such as "Don't Try This At Home", "Let's Not and Say We Did," and "Want In?". There are a few songs on love and even a duet, but for the most part the topics are as shallow as the 80s were. However, this album avoids the cheese-factor so often found in 80s synth pop, not only because it isn't as dated, but because its charming and catchy songs don't take themselves too seriously and only intend to be danceable.

Some disgree whether or not this is the best album to introduce yourself to Laptop with, the other favorite is "The New Me Vs. The Old You," which is another good album. Like the synthpop of the 80s, his music is an acquired taste. If you require music with an guitar, or angst you can take serioulsy, Laptop is not the band for you. Fans of 80s Bowie, Roxy Music, New Order should definitely check out what Laptop has in on his hard drive. He does a much better of emulating his junior high school favorite bands than the more heavily favored Interpol.

4.0 out of 5 stars a quick review: "If you like...you will like...", December 18, 2006

By 

chadwick taylor "Wick" (fort lauderdale, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Don't Try This at Home (Audio CD)

Bowie, Magnetic Fields, Sleepy Jackson, T-Rex...it's good.

at least every other track is good.

3 and 1/2 stars.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very much underrated record, July 1, 2003

By 

I. Puente "Paul Weller Fan" (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Don't Try This at Home (Audio CD)

... Opening Credits II and III seem to be what people wanted on Laptop's second and third fill-length CD releases. Opening Credits is a fine record. But it definitely could be improved on.

Whole Wide World is great. Ratso Rizzo is the most rhythmic (ethnic?) sounding Laptop song - certainly it's immediately catchy and deserving to be a single. It's been 5 years since Opening Credits. Don't Try this at Home is an evolution of music product that sounds retro/current at the same time, while incorporating more emotion in the vocals and more varied instrumentation/programming.

Other highlights here are Want In, So Funny, Surprise, Surprise, and Don't Try This at Home. Very much looking forward to the next Laptop release.