Customer Reviews

Fun With Humans

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In short, it is a tragedy that this band has not received more recognition than it has. Jo has a beautiful voice that is paired with witty lyrics. The music is put together well and it compliments her vocals. If you get a chance to catch these guys live, then call in sick, steal the car, do whatever it takes... you won't be disappointed!

If you love a sexy female singing voice backed by an up tempo drum beat and clean guitar licks Stretch Princess's second CD, Fun for Humans, won't disappoint the pop rock fan. Led off by the defiant song about a lovers break up, Freakshow, you be humming lines from this ditty all day. The album is dominated by mostly sophomoric musings about relationship woes and falling in love. Some of the songs are touching (Dying to Begin, Favourite Lunatic,Over and Over). This album is huge improvement from their previous self-titled effort. Stretch Princess, a British/Australian trio, could be described as female dominated cross between Third Eye Blind and The Cardigans. Take all the sultry female vocals of bassist Jo Lloyd and mix it with catchy guitar riffs of Third Eye and Stretch's sound is born. The only gripe this reviewer has about the album is the candy rock polished sound. While all the songs are catchy they tend to get old quickly. Stretch Princess brings no new innovation to rock and mostly feels like a replay of The Sundays on Prozac with less meaningful lyrics. The real highlight of the band is Jo Lloyd's beautiful voice. This album is a fun listen with no dogs on it. I bought it and think fans of The Cardigans, The Sundays, and Third Eye Blind will enjoy this in their music collections.

I first heard stretch princess in a movie and really liked it. I got the first cd and enjoyed it, and I must say the same for this one. It's an awesome cd and the songs are new and really catchy. Pick it up if you can!

While the band was taking a break since their self-titled debut (1998) as a result of drummer Dave Magee's 'inoperable brain tumor' (yikes!!), vocalist & bassist Jo Lloyd & guitarist James Wright were crankin' out some of the best lyrics out today. There's plenty of upbeatness (Dying to Begin & You Should've Come), a good dose of sarcasm (Freakshow & Breakfast for Champions), and catchy one-liners peppered throughout (I'm partial to 'wishing on the deathstars in the night sky' - Freakshow).

There's a good range of musical styles throughout the album. There's punky riffs and beats (You Should've Come), plenty of ballads (Time and Time Again), radio-blastin' favs (Freakshow, Angels, All I Want), and arguably a serious Alt-Rock hit (Favorite Lunatic - musically close to Radiohead).

Jo Lloyd's vocals are crisp & playful, yet with a slight edge at appropriate sections. She has a voice that is a recognizably alt-rock sounding voice. Most of my friends compare her vocal style and sound to Gwen Stefani. Not to overlook, but Jo rips some great bass tracks.

James Wright's riffs are fresh. They AREN'T the same old reheated McD's hamburger sound on the majority of the stuff shoved on us today. James' musical range is a great complement to Jo's vocals. There's an undeniable Radiohead style influence in some of the songs. From the pix I've seen, the dude could pass as a young Elvis!

Dave Magee has a knack for the pulsating rock, ringing punk, and swaying ballads. The improvement in the tempo and variety is notable between this album and the self-titled initial release - (NO knock on the self-titled release, it stands very well on its own). The sound has evolved to another level!

If you're lookin' for a one dimensional band with teen-with-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-cuz-my-mom-grounded-me lyrics, look elsewhere. This is a musically well-rounded album that will earn the band extended respect and really launch their popularity. Buy the dang album!

At first i thought this CD was ok, but afterwhile if you give it a chance and listen to it more and more it really REALLY grows on you. It is now one of my favorite albums and I listen to it all the time. Freakshow is a really great song with very clever lyrics, just look them up. I love the line..."I dont want the ocean in my seashell, i just want a boyfriend with a brain cell." lol I thought that was a cute lyric. Anyway, if you haven't heard of this band before i suggest you check them out, there great. Jo has such a beautiful voice and as i said, this cd just grows on you.

i heard some songs of this cd and trey are beautiful!!i wanna know some fans of them...if you have their cd please write me at hollercomeon@libero.it!!!they rock!

i'm so glad i found this cd !!! i heard the song "time and time again"...with the lyrics "oh, to love you...to love you not...makes no difference, it's all that i've got. there's no reason for you to watch while i wait for you to be perfect."
how amazing are those lyrics? the whole album is really good....I describe stretch princess to my friend as a cross between Michelle Branch & Avril Lavgine, with a rock twist....check out this cd, you will NOT be disappointed.

www.stretchprincess.com

"Freakshow"- Is just a happy-go-lucky-Sheryl Crow-rock-song (can we say "Steve McQueen"?). blah.

"You Should've Come"- Is just a Sum 41 like-concocted-teen-riff-track. It's an ok song; it gets stuck in your head. Jo does try to make you feel it though. so ok.

"Angels"- Has the modernized pop of Leann Rimes and Faith Hill written all over it. Additionally, Michelle Branch (think "Goodbye To You") does this style much better than all three of these artists. It's a song that will grow on you I guess. so ok.

"Breakfast For Champions"- Very good tune. Sounding like Sixpence None The Richer. The lyrics gradually work into you. ok.

"All I Want"- Reminds me of Merril Bainbridge's last album, 'Between The Days', but Bainbridge achieves this subtle rock style much better than what Stretch Princess is doing here. blah.

"Happy Now"- Jo Lyod (vocals) is effective and the ballad-rock production is comforting. Like that steady bass line, too. It has playable return. It's very pretty. so ok.

"Time And Time Again"- This is a great song. Kind of down-tempo and folksy. It connects, and it shows a more mature sound from the band. ok

"Favourite Lunatic"- The catchiest song on this album. The brief keyboard pulse in the chorus sounds very much like a Brittle Stars motion from keyboardist/vocalist, Estelle. Lisa Loeb makes a lot of her songs around this music vibe which "Favorite Lunatic" suggests. I like the layered vocals. ok.

"Dying To Begin"- What is this? 60s-new wave-country-rock? Shania Twain would probably do better justice to this kind of sound. I didn't feel this one a few times, but it's grown on me. i like the background shouts (woo hoo hoo). so ok.

"My Best Friend"- not the simple piano ballad. This style is so overdone already. Can we say Chatal Kreviazuk, Beth Hart (remember her?), or even Fisher? This song is so stuck in the 80s and early 90s Billy Joel scheme. Man if you want real piano pop songs, look towards those who do it right like Tori Amos, Alicia Keys, Vanessa Carlton, Fiona Apple, and even some of Leona Naess' material...etc. This song reminds me of what may happen if Jewel starts singing over piano ballads; not a promising thought. blah.

"Over And Over"- Definitely has Harriet Wheeler (lead vocalist of The Sundays) yelling "Hey that's our sound and style"! This track sounds like it was ripped directly from The Sundays' 'Static And Silence' album. Jo even sounds similar to Wheeler, in her subtle vocal intonation. This song is a keeper. It sounds great. so ok.

After such a promising self-titled debut, the band kind of abandons its initial vibe, but grows in new directions. In some spots, this album is lacking in emotional connection and production. But overall, they make it work. You get about eight good tracks. Jo is still stellar, and the lyrics are good. I'm a supporter of this band, so I'll still buy this album.

I never heard of this band that was before I saw them in concert for the first time.When they appeared I was wnodering who they were and when I heard them sing freakshow I had to get the cd. They are really talented.But this is my opinion what's yours?