Customer Reviews

Out of the Loop

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

 

 

electronic indie blows my mind, and this band is definitely it. i downloaded a only two songs prior to buying this cd, and i knew i would like it. despite the fact that some songs (but not ALL, trust me on that) may sound alike, their sound is amazingly original. they are hailed by many because they recorded the entire album on a laptop computer, and i'm sure that was difficult, but i don't see it to be so hard to the point that they need to make it a very noticeable statment in the insert of the cd. this is definitely a cd i could listen to while getting ready and driving on my way to a club or just out in general. i put it my cd player as my alarm in the morning. it's the perfect sound to cheer you up and get you on your way to a fantastic day. my favorite song is probably "september," mostly because it's impossible for me not to vision myself dancing at an awesome club with a really perfect guy. you can definitely listen to it anywhere. i listen to it while running, dancing, just sitting in my room, whatever. simply amazing.

There's always something unabashedly childlike - not childish - about Kindecore's releases, and I Am the World Trade Center's "Out of the Loop" is no exception. Imagine some ambitious and plucky sixth graders filching dad's laptop and proceeding to imitate in their innocent way the repetitive robo sounds of St. Etienne and Stereolab. In actuality, the slightly more grownup duo of Dan Geller and Amy Dykes cobbled together this album of bloops, bleeps and beatific melodies entirely on a Gateway notebook computer. Throughout, the homemade rhythms and readymade dance tunes make for dizzying aural gratification. Dykes' pleasing wisp of voice is nestled nicely amid the honeyed shuffle of "Look Around You," the tripped-out "Light Delay" and the Euro disco of "September." All the while Gellar lays down squiggly synth effects and an out of the loop racket - careful, the post-modern pyschedelia of songs like "Flute Loops" and, especially, "In Your Head" might just blow your mind! Shove this in your Walkman, and step lively. Much like the way it was crafted, this is portable music for a portable age.

Curiousity piqued when I saw a tiny write up about the duo in the new Alternative Press. When I saw that there sound was compared to Saint Etienne I automatically had to check out this duo.

I was quite impressed that "Out of Loop" was made all on a laptop computer. The sound generated from the laptop didn't sound like it was all done on a Gateway notebook computer. I can hear the similarities to Saint Etienne but with more loops and samples. The music is part indie pop, retro pop, with a smatterings of electronica music. I do like the Brooklyn mix to "Metro" but I find myself preferring the Athens mix. When I first listened to the cd I wasn't sure what to make of it but on the second listen I found myself starting to enjoy the album. Not really one of my favorite cds of this year but it definitely is quite pleasant to listen to and deserves at least an honorable mention.

This album is from the future. Hard to believe it was made by a couple of kids on a laptop, boyfriend writing the music and girlfriend singing. Part electronica, part indie, part fuzz bomb post-retro new wave. I really like it, I've never heard anything like it before really but the album just came out last month and (ready for a cliche?) I just can't stop listening to it. Just goes to show anybody can make an album/movie/opus these days with a computer and a lot of free time if they're driven to, but I don't know anybody right now who could write such a progressive beautiful album as I Am the World Trade Center.

Some bands seem to have the worst luck. When I first heard the band I Am the World Trade Center, I felt like I was bouncing around at a Japanese rave dressed as a trendy Fruit fashion
victim. Their sound is simply put - fun! The tunes are jam-packed with cheerful, looped keyboard melodies and jolly, bleepy sounds.

But when Sept. 11 happened, their band name became rather morbid. Without a World Trade Center, what would the band name really mean to an audience who didn't know them before the terrorist attack? The band (Dan Geller and Amy Dykes) is well aware of this since moving to Brooklyn, NY from Athens, GA. And so out of a show of respect, I Am the World Trade Center is donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their record Out of the Loop to the United Way of New York's September 11th Fund.

That aside, Out of the Loop (distributed from the ever-addictive Kindercore label that Geller co-founded) is something quite extraordinary. The duo record all their songs entirely on a single
laptop computer. Seriously! They don't need any fancy-schmancy studio. And this proves that no one has an excuse not to make funky music.

Songs like "Metro" and "In Your Head" are good enough to listen through a decent pair of headphones. Trust me, midway through the CD you'll be fighting the urge to bounce around your apartment. Don't fight it! Boing! Boing!

It's hard for me to say which IATWTC record I'd recommend first -- it's a tossup between "Out of the Loop," the duo's debut, or 2004's "The Cover Up." Their sound is a cross between Saint Etienne and Ladytron. If you like either of those groups, you'll probably enjoy this record. Also, I think their live shows are a lot more fun than any of the albums.

And remember, good concert etiquette means never having to say you're sorry. I'm sorry.

do we realize that the eleventh song on this cd is called September.. 9.11.

Does anyone else find it extremely freaky that a group named I Am the World Trade Center had a cd out before 9/11 but the 11th track of the cd is titled "September"?!?!?!?!?

Well, I thought I would be into the disk from the above description...but I don't think I'll really find myself putting this on very often. I guess the fact that it was done on laptop with probably the same software every joe shmoe has lends to it sounding somewhat predictable and boring. I guess they made good on delivering something made with adequate computer technical skills, but this is really lacking in inspiration. Sorry, you are not a winner, please try again!