Customer Reviews

Metropolis

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unlike many I wasn't a big fan of BURN the previous outing by CHRIS RANDALL and his band. Though it was good, I felt that it was too electronic. The end result was cold and distanced with little of the life present on SINS OF THE FLESH and TORTURE TECHNIQUE shinning through.

But on METROPOLIS that is all different. Though still heavy with electronics the addition of some horns and most impressively, slide guitar makes this sound as alive as a first date.

The impressive opening spoken word track THIS METAL SKY (spoken by Randall's wife) sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Though far from a concept album the work does have a theme of humanity overcoming the "industrialization" of the culture. You know emotion over machine, love conquers all, that sort of thing.

Though easily available, WAX TRAX! Didn't really support this album enough and left the gang to flounder out on the road on their own. Subsequently they left WAX TRAX! for greener pastures. I caught them opening for TYPE-O-NEGATIVE and found the stripped down live sound to be even more exciting. I sincerely hope a live album is under consideration. This was easily one of the best releases in 97, which was a great year for this type of music anyway.

Seems like for every genre of music there is,a handful of bands will step barely outside the beaten path.'Metropolis' is SMG's fourth effort.Best described as industrial metal.Having John Fryer(White Zombie)to produce this CD didn't hurt either.Tracks that I thought showed Sister Machine Gun's true colors were "Living Without You","White Lightning","Admit"(for it's full string orchestration)and "Bitter End".Might appeal to fans of Gravity Kills,Fliter,KMFDM and possibly Deftones or Faith Nor More.

This is really one of s.m.g's best "lost" peices of work, as awesome and well made as this album is, it really didn't see that much exposure like the other albums....why? I have no clue, some say it's because wax trax! didn't lift a finger to promote it. (i beleive it!)A real gem. first off you've got a darkly atmospheric intro featuring c.randall's wifee speaking with her voice lightly distorted over hyper-ventilated blips & bleeps talking about how the corporate world is trying to brain-wash you. Then from there we have an ecclectic album resuming many of the good old fashioned wax trax traditions, mixed up with new suave (but demented) tones. Think like "Burn" just sped up some, and much more polished. This is sister machine gun's last album from wax trax! after this c.randall started up his own positron! records. Best songs: "desperation" " what do you want from me" "think" and "torque". also "admit" will really suprise you, seems kind of odd at first but you understand the passion/fury behind the lyrics, then it grows on you.

i first got turned on to SMG when they toured with Gravity Kills, and i've been a fan ever since. This album is, in my mind, the culmination of what music can truly be. The album is the perfect infusion of several different (sometimes blaringly so) musical stylings, all woven together like an intricate tapestry of harmony.

The pinnacle of the album has to be "Admit." With it's string-and-piano rhythm, it's the most obvious example of music's true potential.

The only bad thing about this album? It ended long before i wanted it to.

Chirs Randall and crew do it again with another solid album, possible more diverse in influence than even the previous release, "Burn".

The album begins with a dark, foreboding segue by Chris' wife Lisa, reminiscent of Nicole Blackman's work with the Golden Palominos. The mood being set, the album kicks off with the electronic dissonance of "Desparation". From here Randall's mission to incorporate what he likes, regardless of genre into his music, becomes beautifully obvious. "Temptation" has sort of a rock-lounge-swing feel to it, "Torque" rocks hard and takes no prisoners, and "White Lightning" incorporates Chris' electronic leanings with rockabilly (yes, that's rockabilly) in a song which is made even more powerful buy the noise guitar antics of David Bowie's guitar player, Reeves Gabrels (whose signature playing also appears on several other tracks).

Perhaps the highlight of this album for me is the track "Admit"... when I heard this one for the first time, I was pleasantly, dumbfoundedly awestruck. The song is a masterpiece... a combination of beautiful melody, heartfelt vocals, a string section, and just the right touch of noise from the afore-mentioned Mr. Gabrels. This song is the perfect representation of what Chris can do, and does well throughout the entire album.

My only complaint is that this album leaves me anxious with anticipation as to what the bands next move shall be... but whatever it is... believe me, it will be done with diversity in a way that has never been done before.

In my first review I said that "This Metal Sky" was a spoken word done by the lead singer of "Hunzel und Gretel" and this is completely wrong. I was given some wrong information and I'm sorry about posting misinformation. "This Metal Sky" is a spoken word done by Chris's wife Lisa. Everything else that I have said I hope is all true. If I still have no idea what I'm talking about, e-mail me and tell me, please. Hell, it's a great album, buy it. You'll like it, I do.

Without having a great frame of reference for Sister Machine Gun, I picked up Metropolis shortly after it came out on the recommendation of a friend, who's musical tastes are very much in tune with my own. I was extremely pleased to find this CD was right up my alley. Electro-rock has never sounded better! With it's industrial edge, this CD definitely turns it up a notch. 'This Metal Sky' really sets the tone and mood for the CD, with it's spoken word cynicism. It reminds me of KMFDM's 'Dogma' with spoken word by Nicole Blackman. 'Desparation' is a noisy, fast paced song that I give 5 stars! 'Temptation' makes me think of Ministry's Al Jourgenson in a crushed red velvet suit doing his imitation of a lounge singer. Except this song has a much more serious tone than Al would probably give it lounge singer style. 'White Lightning' is industra-billy (if there is such a category) for this country tinged number. 'Living Without You' has a jazzy feel. 'Torque' throws it into high gear with attitude. 'Think' is the same idea. 'Bitter End' is a slower, bassy number that really kicks. 'Cut Down' has a drum n' bass influence that Goldie would be proud of. But I have to agree with several other reviewers that the true high point of this CD is 'Admit'. It is an emotional, melodic, practically perfect piece.

I love this CD. There is some noisy guitar, electro beats, strong independent bass rhythms, just the right electronics, strings in some places. I eagerly anticipate the next album, hoping this diversity shines through on it as well.

When I first heard this album was very surprised with how good it really is. It opens on a strange note with Chris's wife Lisa doing a spoken word which is pretty good for a spoken word. As the album continues along, I picked up several musicial influences that helped make this ablum what it is. If you like true, well thought-out industrial influenced a large amount of music, you will like this ablum alot. If you have no idea what I'm talking about but it sounds cool, you'll like this album. If you like industrial period, well, you guessed it, you'll like this ablum. The sound is very clean and doesn't sound like someone banging away on pots. It sounds very, very good and it is a very, very good album

SMG just keeps on getting better with each release. The production and writing put into this record definitely surpasses that of Burn.

Songs like "Desperation" puts you in that mood that reminds you that great artists still do exist. Where as "White Lightning" has the strong beats and electonic synths with some very smooth slide-guitar licks which gives you that "classic rock/hard rock, listening in your car while driving through Texas" feeling.

I have one word for this album... Variation. Going from the pure rock to jazz to "industial" to drum and bass. It's nearly impossible to get bored of the album, unlike another band whose name is a crop that Indiana and Iowa are known for growing.

But anywho... Metropolis marks it's own niche in today's music scene with it's originality and versitality.

While not really a follow-up to Burn, as none of Chris Randall's albums sound anything like each other, the musical diversity remains, satisfying all the musical styles you've learned to love, with the jazzy "Living Without You" to the somewhat Country music-influenced rocking "White Lightning." I still don't understand why more people haven't picked up on SMG, with songs on the Mortal Kombat soundtracks and even showing up on La Femme Nikita. If you like anything from Rock to Jazz to "industrial" you can't go wrong with Sister Machine Gun