Customer Reviews

Life of the Party

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

 

 

Been following these guys since late 2001. Best live show around. More sounds than a person knows what to do with. This new EP expands on the straight ahead rock of Endsongs and the gazing sounds of The Strangest Things by pushing the electronic sounds (Life of the Party) and speeding up the tempo (We're Not Gonna Crack). This is awesome New New Wave that Rocks. They go acoustic (There's a Fire) with a heart felt rendition that really means something. The live electric There's a Fire kicks big @ss but isn't here so I hope that is being saved for the LP. Then there's Sunday Nite Health, a mellow instrumental that is both soothing and wondrous. Here It Comes sounds like an outtake from their previous LP so it doesn't move forward but is still good. If you like Interpol, Hefner, New Order, Ride, Doves, The Rentals, The Walkmen then this is 15 minutes you won't want to miss! Thank goodness irony is dead with these guys. Good Riddance. Go see 'em live.

Longwave is a band that is undefineable and unpredictable. They have changed members and changed from the shoegazer sounds of their early records. This is a taste of the future. Longwave has come a long way. This is a sign of better things to come. It comes with some videos from the previous group and sound. A real artist doesn't look back.

I thought the strangest things was one of if not THE best thing ive heard in years-this doesnt live up to it

With every release Longwave continue to grow. This is by far the most exceptional CD they have made so far. I respect any band who can reinvent themselves with every release.

The EP is worth owning for Sunday Night Health (very enjoyable short music piece) "Here It Comes" and I suppose "Life Of The Party." "There's A Fire," the title track of their new full CD in June, is featured on this EP - but it's a quirky, acoustic, 70's folk strummer that's interesting and likeable after several listens. Obviously being familiar with the band before hearing a song like that, on the radio for instance, helps. Otherwise you'll get some snickers at first.

New songs on their latest CD such as "River (Depot Song)," "Dancing In The Light," "The Underworld Song," are already out there and hint at a much more highly produced and evolved sound. I look forward to it.

When Longwave released Strangest Things, they got a fantastic production sound and had a great batch of songs. I saw them live and, while the show was energetic and respectable, I would hardly call it the "best live show around" as the previous reviewer suggests. Shannon Ferguson *is* a talented and inventive guitarist and gets good sound live. However, anyone who compares Longwave to Ride never saw Ride play live. That's like comparing a Perry Como show to the Clash, circa 1978. But I digress. Unfortunately, the sound on this EP, and the first two tracks in particular is muddy and very disappointing. The vocals on "Life of the Party" sound as though they were recorded underwater! Steve Schiltz has a good voice, so it's puzzling why they'd want to mess with the sound this much. Perhaps they're hoping to hide the lack of substance behind layers of "style". I expected big things and growth from Longwave and bought this EP without hearing it. Don't make the same mistake I did. If you really want to hear some cool sounds out of NYC these days, check out Ambulance Ltd. or Robbers On High Street, or just wait for the new Interpol CD. Longwave's rhythm section has recently jumped ship, and so has this fan.