Customer Reviews

Neon & Ruin

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Another 3 dollar thrift store find here, and what a bargain! I can't believe that this is currently going for 30 cents here at Amazon- especially when I think it might be out of print. Unlike my copy of Return of the Frog Queen (see my review about it) I listened to this one over and over again in my car as I was driving around. I lent this to my wife (a musical theatre performer who loves that genre and not much else) to see what she thought of it and after a couple of weeks I had to go back into her car and steal it back- she was listening to it over and over again too! Suffice it to say that this is an amazing debut release and I can't wait to hear more. I'll agree with the review I read elsewhere that mentioned the production was a little restrained- but maybe that is part of the charm and why it is so easy to listen to it over and over again- not just a couple of songs but the entire CD. At any price, you will not be disappointed with this release.

It is a rare treat to find a band which makes music as great as this. I'm talking about a complete album from start to finish here-which is so rare for indie bands to accomplish. Upon listening, song after song, it will be difficult to believe this could possibly be a debut album.

If this sort of album is Slender Means' starting point, then I forsee this band becoming very influential. I read one reviewer here seeing Nirvana's popularity potential, and that sounds reasonable to me. I'd say this album is their start to greatness. I'd even dare to compare this to something similar to Pablo Honey-by you know who. Get this album and enjoy it, you definately won't be sorry.

Like other reviewers I stumbled across this band. They were doing a live interview and playing a few tunes on a local radio station. Bought this album and didn't listen to it for awhile. Once I played it a couple of times I was surprised to find out how much I enjoyed it. Great album!

I think that Slender Means is one of the very most underrated bands making music in Seattle right now. While Neon & Ruin is their first, not their latest, album, it is testament to their strong musicianship, catchy melodies, and interesting lyrics. Why they're still playing shows to 200 people at the Sunset is beyond me (though I enjoy these shows personally!). The multiple five star reviews here is all you need to know how awesome this record is. Catchy, inspired rock songs that will have you singing along very quickly. Three of them made it into my top 25 in itunes back in '06 and are still there today!

This lot have a disturbing affection for melody. How far do they think they'll get writing great hooks, good lyrics and a killer chorus? They should really know better

Slender Means is one of the best new local bands in Seattle, and actually the one of the best of any new bands all around that I have heard come out in years...

Neon and ruin is incredible for a debut album. Every song is unqiue lyrically and musically. There is not one song that is not good on this cd. They are all amazing...catchy and very memorable melodies. I have listened to it over and over and I cannot get tired of it.

I'm glad somebody is finally making some good music out there again.

I ordered this CD, with a bit of skepticism, after hearing about this band from a West Coast friend. To my surprise I've thoroughly enjoyed having it, and several songs from the album have made it onto my regular playlist. You'd never guess this was a debut album - it's polished and captivating and thoroughly enjoyable. I look forward to seeing what Slender Means accomplishes in the future.

this is album is gorgeous! makes you want to dance, sing along, and take it to the streets. Slender Means are definitely one of the NW's very best and their debut album goes down as an important contribution in Seattle's illustrious music history. Cheers.

If they can sustain this level of work, this band is going to be as big as Nirvana, but in a different way. They're witty. They're lyrical. Their album gets better with every listen, and they'd blow The Strokes off the stage. It would take a musical vocabulary I lack to describe what they do and why it's brilliant, so I'll just put the lyrics of one of their songs here:

Painless Life

There's a cure for every let-down
there's a pill for every hurt
and I never could grow attached to pain;

God bless the scientists
redefining happiness
as a twelve-hour release tablet, yeah, oh yeah

So give, give me the painless life
take the edges off the serrated knife
I'm never gonna let it get through my skin
nothing coming out, nothing going in
gonna put up four walls of stone
feels so good down to the bone
and for a little while I will be so brave
riding on the crest of this chemical wave
yea, this wave, ohhhh-oooo

You had me beat for how long?
Eyes far away and shallow
and the conversation was so brief...
god bless the scientists
redefining happiness
as a twelve-hour release tablet, yeah, oh yeah

So give, give me the painless life
take the edges off the serrated knife
I'm never gonna let it get through my skin
nothing coming out, nothing going in
gonna put up four walls of stone
feels so good down to the bone
and for a little while I will be so brave
riding on the crest of this chemical wave
yea, this wave, ohhhh-oooo