Customer Reviews

Guns Babes Lemonade (Dig)

5 star:		(5)
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3 star:		(1)
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I was introduced to Muscles via a friend, and I love it! It reminds me a bit of Mount Sims, yet his vocals are less produced (and less annoying too). His songs are INCREDIBLY catchy. You'll find yourself shouting along with the chorus.. and strangely in its simplistic lyrics, there is this weird sense of silliness and hope intertwined.

This is definitely an album that you will either hate or love because of it's simplicity or its outright humor at times (hey, some electro listeners like that unemotional serious electro crap).

I should also mention that I am extremely addicted to this album. I've been listening to it for the past week front to back. It took me about 2 listens to really get into it, and now I'm hooked.

i adore this cd. at first listen i wondered if it would hold my interest...and now i can't stop listening to it. the lyrics and beats are in my head constantly, and sometimes i dance so ferociously to it in the car that i should probably pull over.

good stuff.

As an Australian teenager, hunched over his computer in early 2006, nobody thought much of Muscles. But with the release of his first full length album Guns Babes Lemonade, Muscles is ready to "tug at your heartstrings, right to your heartbeats." He knows exactly how to write great hooks, driving beats, and infections melodies that will keep you humming and dancing for days after listening.

At first, Muscles particular brand of synth-driven dance pop may not appeal to all audiences. His melodies seem basic and his off-key vocals seem to grind on the ear. But with continued listening, you can feel the sincerity and passion that shines through his music, and that is what makes Muscles amazing. Muscles himself describes what he does, "I just wanna make unpretentious music and focus more on the enjoyment of the person listening to it than talk myself up like some rock bands or electronic acts do." And at that mission he succeeds tremendously. Because halfway through the album you when you hear Muscles say that when he has a party, everyone is invited, you are thoroughly convinced.

Another thing that is astounding about the album is the way that the album creates such rich sonic textures. For example, on the song "My Friend Richard," Muscles uses a busy percussion line underneath a steady synthesizer groove and quadruple tracked vocals (singing, yelling, and spoken word) to create a thick soundscape. Muscles also uses a variety of different synthesizer sounds and modulations to create a unique blend of sounds on every track. In some spots it feels like granular synthesis, with sounds created by blending grains of each different tone, in other spots you can feel the high pass filters wash over you like waves in the ocean, and you can hear the frequency modulation bend pitches like laser beams in a dark dance club.

The album may begin with catchy sugar coated synth melodies, but it is hardly one dimensional. Just as you start to worry that you may get a cavity, Muscles changes the game and starts to weave darker, slower textures. He never lets the groove get too far away, but he does allow you to have a breather while he creates sophisticated interleaving melodies atop of more relaxed drum machine parts. And just when you thought you understood what was happening with this album, he comes back and surprises you with one last dance floor anthem. Arguably the best song on the album, "Hey Muscles, I Love You" starts out with a quick four on the floor drum beat and then introduces an irresistible rhythmic line that could only be improved upon by Muscles yelling the chorus with boundless enthusiasm.

The chorus of that last tune becomes a chant that you will come to believe in the very depths of your heart and soul. It happened to me and it could happen to you, "Hey Muscles, I Love You."

The slender, self-proclaimed anti-alcoholic, Muscles, may like handing out fruit, but his talent really lies in producing catchy, feel-good, and at times funny songs, over upbeat, lo-fi melodies with raspy, off-key vocals.

From Victoria, Australia, Muscles brings a youthful rebelliousness with his lyrics; Each song could be described as random, to say the least. His 2007 album Guns, Babes, Lemonade is a feel-good ride that makes you want to break it down in a Melbourne club and tell your teacher 'puck you miss'. Despite the oft-off key vocals, 'Guns, Babes, Lemonade' was greeted with critical praise, much in part to Muscles' hit single Ice Cream. This awesomely-unique song describes a young, confused Australian caught up in a precarious situation. Not knowing what else to do, Muscles utilizes Ice Cream to mitigate an awkward and potentially dangerous situation. This song will lead to lower tension in awkward situations, likely help you forget any stresses whatsoever, and potentially force you to dance with your shirt off.

(excerpt from my [..])

Best Songs: Ice Cream and Hey Muscles I Love You

1 Line Summation: An extremely unique, amazing and feel-good album that was way ahead of it's time.

The electronic beats are good, the vocals (he sounds like the guy from T.V. on the Radio to me) are good, but always sung in the exact same way. If you add that to their cheesy lyrics, then one at a time can be fun, but more than that and it becomes a charlie horse.

this CD is amazing! i'm not a fan of silly, fluffy melodies or songs, but I can't get this album out of my head or my stereo. The production is done really well, and the interesting use of vocals and sounds gives the whole album just enough weight to distinguish it from most pop-ish, electronic music. I've used it a few times at parties, and though it initially gets some giggles everyone wants the name of the album at the end. My personal favorites are "ice cream" and "lauren from glebe". great dance record! long live muscles!