Customer Reviews

Fall of the Plastic Empire

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here's a tip for all those that rip this CD and this band. See them live. They will blow you away. The tightly produced sound on this album gives way to loud abusive and all out rockin' live music. I like this album but love them live more.

Strokes, Hives, White Stripes, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, International Noise Conspiracy... all bands collared with the "new-old-rock" label, all given the herculean task of "saving" rock from the depths of pop hades that it seems to be currently consigned to. Well, i can't blame them for not being the rock messiahs everyone wanted them to be. They're just good rock music, if you want some, go get some, cause there they are. Radio doesn't particularly care. But peculiarly, if radio were to care, they might do well to pick up on the Burning Brides.

Basically a boyfriend/girlfriend/drummer trio based in Philadelphia, the lovebirds are Juilliard dropouts, so you know they have some ability and sense of history (and the all-important rock quality of vanity) and it shows on this re-released CD.

There are a lot of influences here, and the impressive part is how effortlessly the band just bounces between all of them. It isn't a 1-trick-pony kind of thing like some of the other bands of this moniker, where the wailing and repetition get old. The pop aspect is certainly present, which makes it a candidate for radio play, even though we all know that will never happen. It's nice to hear some more subtle older influences instead of just blaring garage knockoffs. Though i must admit that sometimes the line between homage and ripoff gets slightly blurry.

But it's good, and certainly up the alley of any fan of the afore-mentioned bands. It's not as howling/frenzied as The Hives, not as 70's as the Strokes. It's pop-rock done well, the way it used to be. Now, where's my cane?

The first song I ever heard from this band was "Something In The Way", a cover of the infamous Nirvana song. And with that one song, I was hooked. I had a hard time obtaining this CD at first, and the one I have has a different cover image; but all the same songs. But anyways, I can't say enough good about this band. They're great. Out of the 10 songs on Fall Of The Plastic Empire, about six have terrific potential to be true rock and roll 'singles'; even though I doubt radio stations will ever play them. Those six possible singles (in this order) are as follows:

1. "Stabbed In The Back Of The Heart" - this song catches you right from the start, and doesn't let go. It's an anti-love song in which the lyrics are twisted around so perfectly you can't help but love it. It starts: `hey you know something... / you fxcked me over / and I've just got a couple words to say to you'. I won't ruin it for you. In my opinion, it's the best song on the album.

2. "Arctic Snow" - the Burning Brides played this song on the NBC show Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and they were awesome (that seems to be where many people took note). For them it is kind of like a single, yet not quite of that magnitude. Even my girlfriend (who doesn't normally like rock music) loves this song. Very catchy.

3. "Plank Of Fire" - this one starts off the CD with a huge bang. The lyrics are flawless. I particularly enjoyed: `I thought the ambulance would come / to take us from the things we've done`. The song is also very versatile as far as its balance between lyrics and sound. There is also a single-version CD of the track. What does that tell you?

4. "Glass Slipper" - A single-version CD of this song is also available, and that's in good time. This song is only 1:45 long (it`s deceiving, I know), yet it rocks just as hard, if not harder, than all the other tracks. And for anyone who appreciates guitar solos, you will be amazed with the sound.

5. "Blood On The Highway" - This is one of the last songs on the CD, but don't overlook it. It has a fast start and some excellent lyrics that fit in very nicely with the melody. The song's also featured on the "Glass Slipper" single mentioned before. There's some excellent metaphors used; and again some great solos.

6. "If I'm A Man" - Being that this song is like no other on the CD, you have to love it. The lyrics are really pretty weird, but in a good-weird way. Towards the end of the song, they slow down the music and throw in some almost funny lyrics; in the vein of Barbie dolls and meat-heads. You have to hear it to believe it.

***

In a time where pop bands and endless, nameless rap artists seem to be ruling the music scene, the Burning Brides offer a beautifully done CD to really change the pace of rock music. As I said, they have done a cover of a Nirvana song (featured on the Smells Like Bleach tribute), and yet their sound isn't really grunge at all. They have their own kind of rock sound, that's as refreshing as it is hard. The other four songs not listed above are still good (the almost 6-minute epic "Plastic Empire" is classically awesome); as it seems I have led you to believe they are not. In fact, they're very good, but one CD can't have 10 singles... if you know what I mean. Burning Brides are a band that certainly needs to be heard. So if you saw their performance on Conan or even if you just like new rock music, you should buy this CD (at least listen to the samples featured on the other album). It will not disappoint you, I promise you that. This is an amazing album from an amazing new band.

I saw these guys (and girl) open up for audioslave in Phoenix. I had never heard of them before so I figured they would just be some [weak] local band but I was completely wrong. They were unbeleivable. Rock has finally found a worthy band to play it. I highly recommend this CD. This is a totally solid band.

I used to write about music for a big newspaper, and every once in a while I still get some stray CD in the mail. After sitting on my desk for a couple of months, I popped this one in and....whoah!

This is exactly why I stopped writing about rock and roll.

Because most of it isn't half this good.

If I were still writing top ten lists, this is one record that would have sealed its place on the first spin.

its been about 10 years since i bought and album that i couldn't even justify with words.10 years ago i was 13. i'm talking multiple,vast,indeterminate,"... numerous as glittering gems of morning dew."i don't wanna quit listening to this album. i think i've actually lost sleep. if you are like me and have been mourning the demise of real,beauty unadorned,know-no-bounds,can't-help-but-feel,punch-in-the-face,kick-out-the-jams,beyond-expression,wonderfully-amazingly-astonishingly-incredible,wanna-jump-up-and-do-something-mamma-wouldn't-understand ROCK AND ROLL...this album will definately dry your eyes.

Who says the city of Philadelphia can't produce anything even halfway decent when it comes to rock and roll? Philly's own (by way of Boston, San Fran, Portland and God knows where else) Burning Brides take that myth, smash it in the face with a hooky riff, and then stomp a mudhole in its ass.

Do you remember the first time you heard Nirvana's "Nevermind?" How about AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds..." or The Pixies' "Doolittle?" Yeah, you see where I'm going with this. That first time, that first magical time you pop a new band's record on and then have to fight off the urge for your head to explode because the music coming out of your speakers is so damn good. Dmitri Coats (gee-tars & vox), Melanie Campbell (bass) and Mike Amb (drums) have thankfully taken it upon themselves to rescue rock and roll with their debut album, "Fall of the Plastic Empire." Clearly taking the very best of what bands like Nirvana and the Pixies brought to the table, throwing in an ample dosage of some thrashing, riffing metal, and the sugary-sweet hooks of a bands like Cheap Trick, Burning Brides have released the rock and roll album of 2001.

Things kick off in 5th gear with "Plank of Fire," a psychedelic rocker that reminded me somewhat of Urge Overkill. Now don't get me wrong, I've mentioned a lot of comparisons here, but Burning Brides have a sound that is all their own. There are just some instances that remind me of great rock and roll bands who came before them. And more importantly, there are very few, if ANY bands out there right now who are rescuing rock and roll like the Brides are. "Glass Slipper" doesn't fall off the pace one bit, screaming past with clap-like drums and wicked riffing. Be prepared to groove by the time "If I'm A Man" kicks in, a song so infectious it is literally impossible to not nod your head and toss your fist into the air. But the absolute shining moment of the album as far as I'm concerned is "Arctic Snow." I had the pleasure of seeing the Brides live just recently (June 3) when they opened for Nebula at the Mercury Lounge in NYC. I also had the pleasure of meeting charismatic frontman Dmitri Coats, but that's another story. "Arctic Snow" kicked off and I was completely TAKEN with the song and by that point, the band. I turned to my buddy and with a big shit-eating grin, said, "Holy shit. These guys are GOOD. Real GOOD." And then I went and bought 2 copies of the disc.

The record comes back down to earth with "At the Levity Ball," a swirling, mesmerizing song that really shows a late-60s Beatles influence. "Stabbed in the Back of the Heart" is a nice, head-nodding guitar-driven song, employing a trance-like riff over and over again until it's stuck in your head for 3 weeks. Thanks, Dmitri. "Rainy Days" continues the psychedelic rock vein before "Elevator" catches you off guard with its thrashy, trashy rocking piledriver of a song. Dmitri, Melanie & Mike kick out the muthafucking JAMS on this tune, bringing it home with a wicked, marching beat. "Blood on the Highway" comes back to late 60s rock land, putting forth the slowest groove on the disc. But make no mistake about it, slow or not, it is still a groove. And then the grand finale, and the 2nd strongest track on the album - "Plastic Empire." Wherever this band gets their influences from, kudos. Because they make some absolute kick-ass rock and roll music. Make that rock and ... roll music.

If I have any complaints about the disc it's that it could have been produced better. It's a bit muddy, and doesn't come anywhere near showing off how good these guys (and gal! sorry Melanie) are live. To be fair, my friend and I commented how good Melanie was on the bass, simply because it was turned way up at the show. And Mike's drumming is what you would expect from any good rock drummer. Rocking, driving, keeping the beats and changing the tempo when the tune calls for it.

Do yourself a favor, get this album and then by all means, go see these guys when they come to a town near you. It will be the most worthwhile ... you can possibly spend. And buy them a drink for saving your worthless rock and roll life, damn it!

I like this record a lot, but I have a problem with the sequencing. They put ten excellent songs next to each other, one after another, with no bad songs to balance things out. You will bang your head for a half hour straight. That is not good for your neck. If you like any kind of rock music at all, whether it be led zeppelin, the rolling stones, dinosaur jr., slayer, nirvana, the white stripes, elvis, whatever, you will like Fall of the Plastic Empire. I predict this band gets huge, so get this now and be ahead of the curve.

It Just Kick Ass! Seriously, so much better than Leave No Ashes. But, i never listen to Hang love.
Anyway, try it, if you love Queens Of The Stone Age, Hermano, Masters Of Reality... That kind of band. -Vincent Houle, From Montreal.

Saw them live in 2002 or 2003 with Detachment Kit, and I bought the album on the strength of their live show. It was an incredible show with the band going full force despite their being only twenty or so people there (not a lot of people go to shwos in Pittsburgh anymore...)

It's a good album, especially for a debut. They definatley (especially the singer) have a gushing love for Nirvana, which is pretty annoying... but the album is heavy. The drummer on this album is awesome. Listen to him on stand out tracks like "Artic Snow."

Some of the songs are a bit long. Some of them are harder to get into. While this album may get neglected from time-to-time, its always refreshing to pop in and it always comes hard.