Customer Reviews

Metasexual

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I remember back in August and September 1999, hearing Joydrop's "Beautiful" on the radio. I thought the song was awesome. Acoustic guitars on the verses, HEAVY electrics on the chorus. At first, I thought the song was being sung by a male and a female. The actual vocals in the chorus is Tara Slone with effects on her voice, cool.

Along came October 1999, I had tickets to go see Joydrop. I went up to the autograph line after their set. Joydrop then became the first signed rockband that I talked to, touched, and had autographs from. I didn't have their album until December, though. At first I didn't like it.

It was hard to get used to because it wasn't from the region. I listened to it, and became more entangled in the melodic lyrics and guitar lines. Parts that stick out in my mind about the album are the string section on "Breakdown", the dramatic depressing "Cocoon" with the high-tuned snare drum, and of course the second single "Spiders," probing it's catchy lyrics into my brain. I don't think this is the best yet, Joydrop has more up their sleeve, in my opinion. We'll just have to wait.

Great album, awesome melodies, talented music.

4 stars.

No, I can't say they're a lot like Garbage, but, one of their songs is definitely Garbagesque. "Beautiful" does have those qualities that Garbage is famous for. I'm a huge Garbage fan, and I can't say that Joydrop is better then Garbage, but, I can't say they're worse either. The first time I heard "Beautiful" was on a late Sunday night while I was watching MTV's 120 Minutes. I don't love this show, but, it's an hour and a half of music videos, how can I resist? As soon as I heard the first lyric "If I was beautiful like you..." I started paying attention. I thought "Oh wow! It's one of those self-esteemish kind of songs!" I'm always up for those, so, I continued watching. As soon as the song exploded into that "I'm beautiful like me!" chorus, I thought "How genius is that?!" I only got to see the video one other time on 120 Minutes, so, I was looking for more. One day I was on AOL, and my friend IMs me and says "Have I got a CD for you! Joydop, Metasexual!" I was like, "Oooo! Now I really have to get this CD!" It was a while before I finally got the album, but, it was worth the wait. When I first heard the opening song, I was a little freaked out because it was more of a rock oriented song and I'm more into that alternative route. I skipped ahead to afew of the songs and I was a little turned off by them. They just weren't my type of music. I knew I would have to give the album another try, and as soon as I did that, I was surprised at how much better they sounded. They finally got through to me! Garbage or no Garbage, Joydrop is very talented! "Beautiful" will always be a major stand out, but, I love "Breakdown" and "Over+Under". Go ahead, give 'em a listen!

Their Sound/Their Music-Joydrop's debut CD is basically edgy pop-rock, with an emphasis on rock, but certain songs are synth pop or melodic shouting. They even have a few light, ballad type songs. Lead singer Tara Slone has a wide vocal range (she can sing sweetly and softly for one song, and be melodically shouting the next) and sounds good singing all styles of song.

Best songs-
2)"Beautiful"-This is a song about wanting to be as beautiful as that popular girl who can get away with anything and everything because of her looks. This song is just so awesome, not only because of the message or its relatability, but because it starts out very balladesque and switches over to melodic shouting for the chorus. Best lyrics: "If I was beautiful like you/I'd be quick to assume/They'd do anything to please me why not/I see their reaction when you walk into the room..." and "That would never never be/'Cause I'm not beautiful like you/I'm beautiful like me..."
3) "Breakdown"-Again, this is a song that starts out balladesque, but gets much louder (harsher might be a better word). The message of the song is nothing unique, where it's a girl who really, really wants a guy but knows he might not feel the same about her, but it's presented in a fresh perspective. Best lyrics: "And I don't see you anymore/And I can't see you on the floor/It's like a nightmare come to life..." and "You know I want you too much/You know it kills me the thought..."
4) "Spiders"-This edgy rock song describes falling out of love and really starting to hate that person. More specifically, it's about all the things they liked about that person that they now hate. Best lyrics: "Those hands I once longed to feel/I wanna squash them under my heel" and "I never thought I'd see the day/I never thought I'd hear myself say..."
6)"Dream Today"-It's hard to exactly describe the instrumentation of the song, but to me it sounds poppy with synth effects in the background. The message to the song feels almost hidden, but it's a commentary on today's world and what's most important to people (material goods and money). Best lyrics: "The sound of the bell rings/To the king they must bring/The latest report on where the dollar's sitting" and "Love is money in the bank/Watch the little darlings grow/Scared for them rightly so..."


Final Recommendations-This CD covers so many emotions, so many thoughts, and I highy recommend getting it.

"Metasexual" is the title of Joydrop's debut album, and a strong one at that. I first heard them when I saw their video to my favorite song of all time, "Beautiful," late one Sunday night on Mtv's 120 Minutes and I was blown away. Their sound was so rich and compelling. The lyrics were so deep and full of meaning, It was a must. When I finally found the album 2 months later, It didn't disappoint and I soon found it rising to the top of my music pile. Tara Slone's (who is in my opinion, the best working vocalist in the world) voice was just...no better way to put it than awesome! She really hits those notes from the bottom of her heart. Thomas Payne's guitar playing is just as awesome which is brilliantly backed up by Tom McKay's bass ryhthms. Then there's Tony Rabalao's drum beats, which rock. Every member of Joydrop has a strong background in music, put together to form the one and only Joydrop. They are the best band working together today. Thank You Joydrop!

I might add that the band is back home in Toronto working on lyrics to the second coming LP.

Best songs: Beautiful, Spiders, and Until

I've never been one for hard rock bands, but this group of people seems to keep it at just the right noise level. With Tara Sloan leading the way with her versatile vocals, Joydrop is a interesting concoction for the alternative music classification. She can sound beautiful and wispy, funky and sexy, or loud and brazen. I also appreciate the mixture of sounds incorporating sythensizers and electric and acoustic guitars. There hasn't been a band in a long time that I've thought was this unique and so enjoyable to listen to, and with a sound that's a little bit more difficult to imitate, seeing as how there are so many artists today who seem to copy what's popular just to get themselves heard. I think this band has a long life and I look forward to their next creation with great anticipation.

I don't like this band just because Tara's "beautiful," I didn't even know what she looked like until I bought this CD. The only songs I heard from this CD before I bought were "Beautiful" and "Spiders", but I must say, they live up to their name, they're addictive and sweet. I've wanted to go to their concerts here, but I was waiting 'til they released another single to follow "Beautiful", but I should've gone! Anyway, "Fizz" is a really cool song (I think it's about the music industry, and if it is, it explains it quite well). Beautiful lives up to it's name, and then some. Breakdown is an awesome song, I love the strings ensemble, and the emotion in the chorus. Strawberry Marigold is a very soothing song, I could go to sleep listening to Tara Slone's soothing voice. Spiders is the song that prompted me to get this CD. Dream Today is pretty cool, has kinda of a techno beat to it. Cocoon rocks, and has some Buddhism influence in it, and is about a relationship getting strange. Over & Under is one of the coolest tracks on Metasexual, it kinda reminds me of the Sneaker Pimps in a way. If I Forget? I won't forget it, for I get it stuck in my head a lot. All Too Well is supposed to be really confusing the way they set it up, but rules. No One is a very emotional song, drummer Tony Rabalao saw Tara singing, and he said it looked like her head was going to explode during the chorus. Dog Star Radio is a very acoustic song, and it's about wondering if life is out in space, (this song I didn't like at first, until I understood what it meant). The Line is a really cool song, and Until is a very acoustic song, and a nice, soothing ending to this CD. I think that any girl that likes Joydrop is twice as cooler as they normally would be, no matter what. I would give this CD many more stars if it was possible. Get it. Now.

'Beautiful' is probably the best known song on this CD, and it represents the talent of this group well. It doesn't represent the variety of music that they do though. Everything is great, but somehow different. It's a great CD!

Saw this band perform in Tallahassee and "WOW", what a show. I've seen alot of shows in my time but half way through this one I walked to the booth where they were selling the CD for 10 bucks and bought it. They were that good live. The album is great too. It's hard, fresh and full of kick.
Haven't heard much of Joydrop since though. I really thought we'd see more of them. But you know how it goes in the music buis.

Great album for your Library.

I think Joydrop is truly unique. They're pop *and* rock, techno *and* hardcore. They're not afraid to sound different on different tracks, and the lead singer's voice is amazing. They are a thousand times better than Evanescence or any other band out there today. It's refreshing to hear a band that writes about things other than expected. Buy this CD and "Viberate" and you will not be disappointed.

From the first track "Fizz" to the very last, Joydrop keeps you in tune. This cd is absoulutely brilliant, a great alternative to bands such as Hole, Garbage, and even NoDoubt. Every song is pefectly designed to keep you listening again and again. I can not remember the last time a I had a cd as good as this!