The Looks [ENHANCED]

MSTRKRFT

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 18, 2006)
• Original Release Date: July 18, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Last Gang Records
• ASIN: B000FILVY6
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,815 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #30 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Electronic Pop
  #41 in	Music > Indie Music > Dance & DJ > Electronica
  #56 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Alternative Styles > Alternative Dance

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Death From Above 1979 made a big impact with their 2004 release You're A Woman, I'm A Machine, touring with Queens of the Stone Age and conjuring an impressive amount of what music journalists call "buzz." The ride was short-lived-they flamed out and disbanded in 2006-but the gaudy intensity that got everyone so excited lives on with MSTRKRFT, the alter ego of DEA's Jesse F. Keeler. Like an even dafter Daft Punk, The Looks reinterprets the hotel room-thrashing hedonism of Above as flat, French-synth "robot pop." It sounds like fun, and most of the time it is. Keeler's tongue is never far from his cheek, but it's not fully planted either. You never know if he's kidding on songs like "She's Good For Business" and its hokey clap machine. There's no doubt about Keeler's booty-shaking intent elsewhere on the record; "Paris" drives through hedonistic four-on-the-floor rhythms and there's no sitting still during the rollicking chorus of the single "Easy Love" or the fat, bent keyboards of "Neon Nights." The silicone glare of the record is wearying, and eight songs turn out to be more than enough. But open-minded fans of Above who can make the leap into full-on electronic will happily soak it up. -Matthew Cooke

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Looking, looking, November 6, 2006

By	E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

No band ever completely dies. Whenever a band breaks up or a frontman expires, you can count on at least one new band to rise from the ashes a year or so later.

So when Death from Above 1979 broke up awhile ago, it was only inevitable that something like MSTRKRFT would show up sooner or later. I have no idea what the name means, but I know what their debut "The Looks" is full of -- Daft Punk-style dance music, as done by robots.

It opens with the funky, blippy rhythms of "Work on You," which slithers around computerized beats and solid drum machines. But what makes it stand out is the robotic voice repeating, "I'm gonna make you mine... I'm gonna make you mine..." It's a bit like being ravished by HAL.

That same sound continues in the discoey and rather repetitive "Easy Love." Fortunately the sound changes dramatically with "She's Good For Business," with the girl's vocals and the hard beats, followed by the fuzz-rocky "Paris."

The beat continues through the rather repetitive "Looks," which is a good dancepunky song, but is dwarfed by the vaguely hip-hoppish "Street Justice." This short album rounds off with the swirling beats of "Bodywork," and the kitschy-futuristic "Neon Knights."

If MSTRKRFT has a flaw, it's a simple one -- all the songs follow the same formula, and they rarely stray from it. After a little while, I started to wish that they would try out something different, just to vary their sound a little.

But I have to admit, they have a knack with some dancey beats. There's a retro dance flavour to their music, and the rigid confines and slightly nuts feeling add to its appeal. And they do vary the formula a little, with swirly beats and retro-disco experimentation.

There aren't much in the way of lyrics, except for repeated lines like "Look... look..." and "Another killin' on the dance floor," which generally appear a few thousand times per song. But then, the vocals aren't about singing -- they're used like another set of beats, to accentuate the music.

MSTRKRFT's debut is relatively unmemorable, but very promising. Sort of Daft Punk's crazier little sibling, "The Looks" is a nice intro to their music -- here's hoping they mix it up a little more.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Looks, July 21, 2006

By	M. Meyer "R.M Phantom" (St. Louis, Mo.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I must say, this album made me get up, throw multiple lightswitch raves, and then sit back down satisfied. Many say that it doesn't have enough to give. To some it doesn't, but I find it incredibly satisfying. If you are a Death From Above 1979 fan or just a fan of Jeese Keelers work, then I recommend it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!!!, August 7, 2006

By	JBizzle "Da Fizzle Shizzle, Dizzle" (Under A Rock) - See all my reviews

I'd heard of these guys before & had no idea they had an entire album out. I happened upon this gem by accident & let me just say WOW, I'm impressed. Other people are comparing these guys to the next Daft Punk & to be fare I suppose there might be a slight likeness to their music, but as a whole these guys have a sound all their own. As far as Daft Punk is concerned they haven't made any descent music since their 1st album(ya, I'm one of those guys that liked "Homework" better)and have been given far more credit than is deserved. There are 8 full length (meaning over 3/4 minutes, "THANK YOU!!!")tracks here, my favorites are #1 "Work On You" & #8 "Neon Knights", all are good though & anyone'll make your fanny shake. Any fan of electro house will totally dig this album, pure quality stuff!!