Our Thickness

The Russian Futurists | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 3, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Upper Class
• ASIN: B0007Y8ADS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #377,376 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars nothing next to "the method of modern love", January 6, 2006

By 

a.dahlgrun "a.dahlgrun" (Hannover/Berlin/Frankfurt) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Our Thickness (Audio CD)

i agree with animal grrrrr on most points even though i can't really put my finger onto what actually makes this album so unsatisfying. me and the 2 friends of mine who appreciate this sort of music agree that "methods" is an absolute classic and that "crumble" is a fine but not really great follow-up (by the way, the songs on "crumble" are far too short, the whole album is less than 30 minutes).

my friends haven't heard "our thickness" yet but i've had it for a while now and i'm trying to figure out what matt has lost. is it really only that he's a happier person now? i don't know, even though to my taste a melancholy undertone is absolutely essential for good pop music (something i also miss on most of the recent new order songs, as opposed to their 80s albums).

maybe for "methods", matt simply had more time to let the ideas for the songs evolve. they feel fuller and more thought-out whereas on "our thickness", i feel he often just took a particular idea or sound and stretched it into a song. on a couple of pieces on "our thickness", the results aren't only not that good but really quite annoying. or maybe i'm just missing a little variation in the songs, not necessarily verse-chorus-verse, just something that makes them more interesting.

in the end, i guess it's just a matter of taste, but i think it's no coincidence that uncut magazine - which is usually quite loyal to its favorites - didn't mention this album at all whereas "methods" got a big rave review and "crumble" a small ok-ish one.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars No disaster, but a tad underwhelming nonetheless, August 24, 2005

By 

Animal (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Our Thickness (Audio CD)

As a fan of both confessional indie singer songwriters and lo-fi electronica, I loved The Russian Futurists' debut album, "The Method Of Modern Love". The former was a dark, synth-driven, and somewhat angst-ridden collection of songs about the breakup of a relationship. What saved it from being self-indulgent mopey dross was the inclusion of at least half a dozen indelibly beautiful melodies.

Unfortunately, the follow-up "Let's Get Ready To Crumble" had fewer of those and "Our Thickness" has fewer still. It sounds like sole Russian Futurist Matthew Adam Hart is now undergoing a relatively stable emotional period in his life, and however cliched or selfish it may sound, I can't help feeling that his music has suffered slightly because of this. It's not that "Our Thickness" is a bad album - "Paul Simon", "Why You Gotta Do That Thing" and "Incandescent Hearts" are all catchy songs which I'd happily hum on the tube on my way to work. It's just that, compared to "The Method Of Modern Love" and, to a lesser extent, "Let's Get Ready To Crumble", it just sounds, well, chirpy and a tad too lightweight.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Oddly pleasing, May 15, 2005

By 

M. Mueller (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Our Thickness (Audio CD)

If you are one of those people that tends to like obscure music that would make other people wrinkle their nose and frown, then Our Thickness by The Russian Futurists is up your alley.
It is doubtful that Matthew Adam Hart, the singer and sole member of the band was actually inspired by authentic Russian music when creating this album. Rather, it appears that upbeat, experimental beats fused with unconceivable lyrics is indeed the `future' for Hart.
The record is filled with inconsistencies. "Why You Gotta Do That Thing" sounds more like it would be the background beat for a hip hop song than a pop song. Skip ahead to "These Seven Notes" and you'd swear you were watching a children's television program or at the circus with the creepily unison female background singers. All the awhile Hart's soft spoken, and barely noticeable voice carries on amidst the guitar in songs like "Hurtin' 4 Certain."
Our Thickness is one of those type of albums that will only catch on with a few people. I predict an underground following for Hart and his futuristic vision.
Bottom line: If you like music that your friends would normally label as "too weird" snatch up Our Thickness. In a couple of months, they'll come back to you asking you the name of "that cool Russian band" once it hits underground status.