Customer Reviews

Machine

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

 

 

The first YYY's EP didn't leave my discman for weeks. The 5 songs were all so good, and cruised by so fast that I'd listen to it 2 or 3 times in a row on the subway ride to/from the city. Obviously I was very excited when I saw that the new single was out and snatched it up immediately. However, compared to the other EP this is quite a disappointment. 'Machine' is a decent song, but not as good as anything on the first EP. Also, it sounds like she's borrowing Julian Casablancas' bullhorn effect for the vocals. The other two songs aren't even really worth mentioning (I guess they are 'B' sides anyway, but still...). You just have to ask yourself if you want to spend the $ for one decent song. Or if you have the first EP and you're a completist...

That said, I'll STILL be buying the album when it finally comes out, on the strength of their live shows and the first EP (it's that good). The first Yeah Yeah Yeah's EP is a must buy, but this single is far from essential, especially if 'Machine' shows up on the album.

I challenged myself to write this review in the time it took to play through this latest offering from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but all I could come up with was this little haiku:

Nothing like first disc
Awful sound offends the ear
Seven crap minutes

Allow me, for a moment, to speak candidly about economics, from one consumer to another. Seven minutes is not a lot of music, and the suggested retail price of this EP, with tax, is about seven dollars. I can brush my teeth for more than seven minutes, and I don't even get paid for that. Granted, a price tag may be no reason to pan a disc-- especially with technology being what it is nowadays-- but it's sure as hell a reason not to buy one, and so I caution you, gentle readers, pay not for this album. From an economics perspective, it's trash.

But before you YYY's fans put on your letter-writing hats and cry, "Capitalism made me do it!", know this: Machine disappoints on an almost unprecedented number of levels, and its unfortunate length is the least of its problems. On Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Karen O and her bad boys from Brooklyn combined just a guitar, drums, and a few teasy-sleazy pouts to create a sprawling, stomping, hook-spewing monster. It was a mixed bag overall, but one that yielded a few kernels of decency and left many, myself included, anxious for more.

As a follow-up, however, Machine seems designed to wrong all rights; there's barely a whiff of the old swagger, Nick Zinner's once-massive guitar hooks are nearly inaudible, and "Art Star" alone has more songwriting creativity in its middle finger than all of these tracks put together. In fact, when you take into account the abysmal production, overexposed vocals, and everything else that takes this EP one giant step backward from the promise of this band's debut, it's for the best that it ends quickly.

Between Zinner and convicted drum abuser Brian Chase lies a potential guitar/rhythm interplay mighty enough to take on Godzilla, pay off the national debt, and cure a little cancer, all at once. The proof of this lies in the YYY's soul-demolishing live assault, which, to a certain extent, was reproduced on the debut; Machine's production buries them squarely at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Aside from the crack-like, nu-surf refrain showcased on the opener and some stellar percussion on "Graveyard", these two are almost nowhere to be found. Under no circumstances should a sound so colossal have to struggle to be heard. And it might not even be so difficult to pluck them out of the mix were Karen O not apparently singing through a megaphone for most of the EP.

To its credit, the title track manages to miraculously downplay these baffling production decisions, salvaging what little is left of this EP's silver lining, but that's the best I can say about it. A racing drone explodes into a chorus that speaks oddly of longing and malaise, and then picks up the pieces and starts again with redoubled effort. The pattern repeats as necessary. "Machine" (as in "sex machine"-- wink wink, nudge nudge) is a slightly obtuse swipe at some of the YYY's forced sexual tension, but at least it's decent fun. The secret shame, however, is that it sounds a little predictable from them at this point, and when your band hasn't even released ten songs, that's cause for concern.

Unfortunately, neither of the other two cuts even fares that well. "Graveyard" sounds as messy and incomplete as a two-minute garage improv on broken instruments, minus any sort of spontaneity or real energy, and Karen O's voice is soaked with enough piercing reverb to lance white-hot needles of pain through your cochlea. And then, as quickly as it began, the disc closes out with "Pin (Remix)", a track which has the distinction of being the most interesting YYY's song I've heard yet-- and not in a good way. The spacy, almost hypnotic drive of this song, which has been a live staple for a while now (obviously in unremixed form) is here reduced to little more than a low-volume hum-- so low as to be almost totally inaudible compared to the rest of the album. If everything didn't end up echoing into a single, gooey mass, it might work as a drone experiment, but it still proves to be obvious filler.

The YYY's have the essential elements of a fine rock outfit lying around their apartment, somewhere, but those elements are clearly not seeing much use lately, if this EP is any indication. Its anemic attempts at bluster wouldn't last ten seconds against anything off the debut. What I'm saying is, there are limitless ways to blow seven dollars, but none could be more wasteful than buying this EP. It's a ( bad ) joke.

Three songs otherwise unavailable on whatever else is out by them (which is just the EP really). So if you like the YYYs you'll like this. Machine is cool, Graveyard is awesome, and the Pin remix is cool, but not outstanding. Too bad this isn't a bit less expensive.

Much buzz has surrounded the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and their debut EP which piqued my interest in the band. After hearing "Machine" on the radio, I was interested enough to lay down some cash for one of their EPs. I ended up with the Machine EP simply because they wanted $15 bucks for the self-titled EP which really didn't make a difference; I wanted to hear "Machine" again. Once I got this cd out of the wrapper and eagerly popped it in my cd player, I sat down ready to enjoy what I hoped would be a great cd.

The first track, Machine, was as good the second time around with surf-inspired verses speeding towards the melt-down chorus, only to build back up into another verse. Karen O's voice on this track swells with a strong sexual undertones. The second track, however, was a huge let down. Sounding more like a mish-mash of distortion and an attempt at melody then an indie rock gem, it was a painful couple of minutes that just seemed to drag. At this point I had laid all my hope into the last song..and my hope was lost. A quiet, spacey sounding song..it sounded more like the band was asleep at their instruments than anything else. The first track is absolutely amazing, in my opinion, but the other two aren't nearly as good and are(luckily) easily forgotten. I haven't heard the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' first EP so I have no comparison but I can only hope that their full-length won't be as bad as more than half of this release.

After reading the one existing customer review for "Machine" I thought that I should maybe voice my defense of the newest YYY offering.

First, anyone thinking of buying this single should know that it is nothing more than that, A SINGLE. This is not an EP, and to compare it to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' previous EP would be apples and oranges. Yes, their eponymous EP was phenomonal, and it clearly set the bar very high for what they would release next, however it would simply be unfair to compare this single with it.

As far as I am concerned, a great single should have two things. 1) A great leading song and 2) a couple of relevant if not amazing B-sides that are entertaining and fasciniting if nothing else. To me, it seems clear that "Machine" fits the first requirement. I disagree with the previous reviewer, I think that the song 'Machine' might be one of the best things the YYY's have ever written, and clearly is as good if not better than the best tracks on the EP like 'art star' and 'our Time.' Sure, the production is a little different than that of those tracks, but I think a more full production actually greatly helps their sound, and hope that when their album comes out they find a nice mix of the lofi sound of their ep and the more glossy sheen of 'Machine.'

Now, the B-sides are a slightly different matter, and why this single stays 'good' and never becomes great. There are only two, when more could probably have been included. Plus, while one is interesting if a bit of a tease at 2 minutes ('PIN', which brings in some cool electro/ambient elements), the other ('Graveyard') is pretty much a throwaway. Still, considering that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have aleady said that no songs from here or the EP will land on the album AND that this can be found for 3 or 4 bucks if you know where to look, as far as I am concerned this a great buy.

this disc gives a full taste of what the YYYs only hinted at on Master: a lovely darkness. The tracks reflect their penchant for siouxsie and foetus and other brooklyn acts such as The Liars. Whereas Master (don't get me wrong, a very fine disc) felt like an extension of the band's old days (a two piece slinging out blues ballads via vox and slide guitar), this work gives a preview of the depth capable with a little polishing.

to sum up

machine: briliant and dark

graveyeard: brilliant and zeppelinesque

pin, remix: a mangled rendition of the original that avoids the cliche 'dance" feel that is ever so popular with "rock" band remixes.

I can't say I LOVE the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, but they're better than anything I've heard in a long time. I loved Karen O's voice: part sarcastic Kathleen Hanna shriek and part Mark Arm raw sexuality. Machine has a sort of choppy melody that I really liked. I have to agree with other reviewers that Graveyard was somewhat sloppy and generic, but I have a feeling that had to do with lousy production. Pin was like painfully bad No Wave. I'll forgive that those songs missed their mark, because I like their spirit (god, I sound like an old lady). Anyway, ciao.

The first YYY's EP didn't leave my discman for weeks. The 5 songs were all so good, and cruised by so fast that I'd listen to it 2 or 3 times in a row on the subway ride to/from the city. Obviously I was very excited when I saw that the new single was out and snatched it up immediately. However, compared to the other EP this is quite a disappointment. 'Machine' is a decent song, but not as good as anything on the first EP. Also, it sounds like she's borrowing Julian Casablancas' bullhorn effect for the vocals. The other two songs aren't even really worth mentioning (I guess they are 'B' sides anyway, but still...). You just have to ask yourself if you want to spend the $ for one decent song. Or if you have the first EP and you're a completist...

That said, I'll STILL be buying the album when it finally comes out, on the strength of their live shows and the first EP (it's that good). The first Yeah Yeah Yeah's EP is a must buy, but this single is far from essential, especially if 'Machine' shows up on the album.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are amazing, but aside from an unexpected "Pin (Remix)", these songs are among the band's worst.

First there was "Anarchy in The UK," then there was "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and now there is "Machine." Many of today's bands have questioned the album format. Most of it is downloaded on the internet anyway. People like me who are into The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, know that any release is just a signpost on the road of a fabulous legend. Karen O is the most famous person in music right now. She can almost compete with W. I. T. with magazine cover to music release ratio. Who cares? This seven minute sonic assault is a fun ride. Most people thought that they would explode after one EP, but the song "Machine" proves that this Williamsburg hype and pot smoke must not be taken lightly. I don't just like this music because I can sit in the L Cafe with Nick Zinner and be a snob. "Graveyard" is a truly great rock song too. I am a believer. Take a deep breath.

(www.freewilliamsburg.com)