Customer Reviews

Dreams

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The whitest boy alive, a berlin-based band centered upon frontman and guitarrist erlend oye, is a vivid example of how honest music can be done in a very passionate and simplistic way without going to extremes.

What strikes me the most about this band is how incredibly "clean" it sounds. Every instrument (drums, bass, guitar and rhodes) is present and can be individually heard out because it stands up from the rest. Nevertheless, this does not mean the band does not work as a whole. It is just an evidence for great musicianship and a great recording. It is a pleasure to listen to the great bass riffs played here, given the fact that the bass in most current bands just adds "fill" but does not really stand out, playing more of a "passive" role.

The bass here takes up much of the band's groove, and it inevitably reminds me of sting's playing style in the police.

I would recomend this band to everyone who is tired of hearing over-produced bands with "massive" sound that blends instruments with others is such way to create a terrible wall of sound and noise.

To be honest, i did not expect less of Erlend Oye, knowing and enjoying the great quality and professionality of the electronic music he has done to this date.

enjoy.

For years, I have associated this honor? (Whitest Boy Alive) with the likes of Doogie Howser, Elvis Presley's "In the Ghetto", Bill Laimbeer's vertical leap, and the dude from Powder. Today, this moniker took on new meaning, as Norwegian DJ/Kings of Convenience frontman Erlend Oye released his newest side project (hopefully) with German DJ Marcin Oez, aptly entitled "Dreams".

Where the Kings' sound is as comfortable as cashmere in any setting, from drinking poolside Mimosas on a Sunday morning, to cuddling by the fireplace on a winter night, to shopping for a birthday present for your sister at Banana Republic, The Whitest Boy Alive is a little less jazzy and a little more minimalist rock. In most songs, the bass, straightforward drumbreat, and breezy guitar riff carry throughout, making it hard to believe that this is the work of two expert DJ's.

Although I have only listened to the album several times, for fear of overplaying it incessantly and having it lose the charm I associate with Erlend's lyrics, the desired effect works for me. While part of the charm of the singer's hush vocals is making depressing lyrics seem playful and pleasant, tracks like "Done With You" and "Borders" have more of a rainy-day, melancholy tone than previous work. For me, the standout track of the album is "Above You", a funky number that has already claimed a prominent, yet assuredly short-lived stint as my MySpace (is that redundant?) profile song. While it is slightly weak at the break, it kicks in with one of the most pleasant guitar over guitar over keytar riffs of the year in the second chorus.

If you are a fan of the Kings of the Convenience, you should enjoy "Dreams." If you are unfamiliar with the Kings, I would highly recommend checking out "Riot on an Empty Street", which is one of my favorite albums of the decade, before deciding to buy "Dreams".

Having done the strictly acoustic thing with Kings of Convenience and travelled the world succesfully for electronic aspiration, Erlend Oye returns with this Berlin-based outfit. Using no electronics and basing songs around a top of the drawer rhythm section dueled by simplistic and charming guitar riffing and Rhodes like the first raindrops falling, "Dreams" succeeed in sheer originality.

Keeping things minimal, groovy and razorsharp, Oye and co will hold you victim before you know it. Standout tracks include trippy "Done with you", "Inflation" featuring the best bass line Andy Rourke didn't get to play on that first "The Smiths" album, the high school-like workout "Golden Cage", the wicked funk of "Above you" and the majestic "Don't give up". Often wrongly termed melancholic, empathic is the right term. It's Oye's interpretation of human emotions that makes these songs the real thing.

"Dreams" has been the soundtrack of my summer, as such I should give it a 5* rating. Having seen the band in concert, I must however reserve the 5 stars for that out of the ordinary ability to cut the songs live. Go see them at any cost, they deliver the best night out around. Thanks guys, you made me smile and dance for a week. Crazy, beautiful and skilled people!

Stripped back, uncomplicated, and yet very fresh. I love this album for it's simplicity, it's grooves, and foppish vocals. It's Hot Chip without the fuss.

When I first heard this eagerly anticipated release on a listening station, skipping through tracks to see if it held up to my beloved two Kings of Convenience albums, I was initially disappointed by its deceptive demo-like quality and mix. I walked away unimpressed. Several days later I was having a conversation with a friend who manages a record store and K.O.C.came up. We both confessed our almost embarrassing love of them and their updated take on Simon & Garfunkel. (like everyone says-right or wrong) The two albums they released domestically were instantly classic- a magical throwback to the old days. He asked if I had heard The Whitest Boy Alive album "Dreams". I told him my initial ambivalent impression and he was quite surprised. He actually found it more interesting than K.O.C for the very reasons I stated. Could I have been so wrong? Flummoxed, the next day I ran out and bought it, took it home and put in my player. I must have been in a distracted and negative mood that day I sampled it because what I now heard grabbed me from the first note.
I had thoroughly enjoyed Erlend Oye's two solo records and their explorations into more electronic territories. Compared to the slickness of K.O.C.'s "Riot On An Empty Street" or "Quiet is The New Loud", "Dreams" has a stripped down, almost punk feel to it, like perhaps The Talking Heads before the addition of Jerry Harrison (if you had been lucky enough to have seen them then as I did) or The Cure in the early days and maybe a tiny hint of Tom Verlaine in the guitar sound and is like listening to a three piece, live in a club.
The tunes are strong, complete with the recognizable emotion and sentiment of Erlend's signature writing and voice. It's a great album for any true K.O.C. fan. Don't hesitate like I did- buy it. Oh yeah.... stay away from listening stations. LOL!

These guys come out of Berlin. Try to imagine the simplest-sounding music with a propensity to make you want to either A) tap your foot B) move your hips C) bob your head or D) dance. I can't find a simpler, more likable sound right now. Keep your ears on the bass lines. Be mindful of their ability to drop some funk. The drums won't let you relax with plenty of high-hat and snare work. They rock about as well as you can without reaching into the mainstream rock arena. They've got plenty of hooks in every song. Start it off with something easy like "Burning" but dig deeper with other easily-liked songs such as "Inflation", "Fireworks", and "Golden Cage". Plenty of tasty treats on this album. Get it.

This is one of the most amazing albums that I have known in the last 3 years, I love it!

The tracks are elegantly produced and well worth owning. Melancholic but not without joy, the songs put me in a introspective head space. Fun to run to as well...

One of the best new records i've purchased in years.

Such a good album, pity it's out of print. Get the CD and note that it sounds about ten times better on LP.

Awesome amazing stuff!

I stumbled across this album on itunes and loved it. It's upbeat and the vocals are great. The song "Dreams" is by far my favorite. Thank God for indie music!