Pictures (Arg) [Import]

Timo Maas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 2, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Warner Classics UK
• ASIN: B0009R34IO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #617,238 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Slip In Electric Kid

2. Pictures

3. First Day

4. High Drama

5. Enter My World

6. 4 Ur Ears

7. Release

8. Big Chevy

9. Devil Feel

10. Burn Out

11. Like Siamese

12. Haven’T We Met Before

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Pictures is the second artist album from Timo Maas; his debut Loud was a combination of techno and big beat with enough drunken party tunes to give Fatboy Slim a run for his money. Here though, Maas is trying for something a bit different with more emphasis on song structure and arrangements than big hooks. Placebo’s Brian Molko lends vocals to the title track and lead single, "First Day"--the former a deadpan delivery over a very tense, new wave tune made dancey, the latter a catchy radio-friendly piece more akin to "Shifter" from the first album but without the funk.

One of the best things about Pictures is that it gets better and better as the album progresses. The aforementioned tunes are good but not special when compared to the spooky and sonically masterful "High Drama" featuring Neneh Cherry or the progressive epic "4 UR Ears" with long-time collaborator Kelis. Maas’ confidence for composing clever, melodic lines that weave in and out of each other has grown immeasurably for this second album (demonstrated perfectly by "Devil Feel", another indie-dance crossover more in-line with the Chemical Brothers) but the orchestration of synths gives it an edge and more importantly a unique, definitive sound for Maas.

If you’re after pure dancefloor killers then you’d be better getting one of his Music for the Maases remix compilations but if you want something more substantial that’s great for listening, Pictures is the perfect album. --David Trueman

Product Description

2005 album from Timo Maas, with various influences, mixing the genres from rock sounds to hip-hop beats. Special guests include Brian Molko, Neneh Cherry & Kelis. Warner.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pictures of..., August 23, 2005

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pictures (Audio CD)

Timo Maas took a long time to craft "Pictures," the follow-up to his debut "Look" -- apparently, it took two years. A mix'n'match of catchy big beats and ominous electrofunk, this sounds a lot like an intense party going on in a haunted house.

That sound starts off in the second song, which is also the title track. Brian Molko of Placebo takes over most of the vocals, and intones ominously how he won't touch or hurt the subject "unless you ask me to." Man, it's creepy. "Now take off your clothes/I wanna take pictures of you/I wanna capture you... in digital..."

After making your skin crawl with that one, Timo Maas opts for some straightforward dance tracks, full of expansive flourishes and wild big beats. After such a sinister opener, they sound rather lightweight; they're not, but that's the first impression I got. It takes awhile for the darker vibe to gradually return, in the uplifting bubbling of "Enter My World."

Then this album shifts into the hip-hop vibe, and it's not a change for the better. Things are okay when it's just Kelis murmuring above a dancey guitar melody, but then we reach the raw synth, Latin guitar and distorted rap of "Release." The latter should have been left off; the lack of dimension doesn't suit Timo Maas's sound at all.

Fortunately, Mass then shifts back to the dark synth, explosive beats and rapid pace that he does best of all. Some of them are gritty, some are epic, and some are ethereal. But all of them are vaguely ominous, and Molko's eerily dispassionate singing is even better than it was in the early songs of this album.

Fortunately, that dark sound is what dominates this album, and what keeps it from being just another album you can shake it to. Despite some disappointing remix albums, the German technomaster proves that he still has it; the creepy soundscapes, vocals, and eerie sputters and electronic beeps -- in some songs, it sounds like lightning frying a computer.

This isn't a perfect album by any stretch; the hip-hop sounds contrived, and there are spots of filler material. Yet Timo Maas's "Pictures" is a darkly atmospheric album that takes awhile to sink it, but is worth it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uber Timo!, November 16, 2005

By 

Scott Villarosa "sjvilla79" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pictures (Audio CD)

This is an album you'll keep on rotation for days. It has just got that perfect mix of catchy tracks, pumping beats and general slickness that comes with most of Timo's releases. Yeah, it is probably the most commercial release from Maas thus far. The popularity of the hit track "First Day" shows that. But it's with this commercialism that I think we're presented with some of his best work. He has obviously challenged himself since his last album (which was also very good) and to his credit he has utilised the time separating both albums well (e.g. reaching yet another higher level with his musical knowledge and ability). So, my conclusion is that any minimal techno or electro fan will like this album. It's good to listen to either wasted or straight and at any time of the day. Remember to change the CD in your player after a while though. Too much of one thing is never a good thing. Yeah, even Timo!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's the first day... of the rest of your life!, August 15, 2005

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pictures (Arg) (Audio CD)

Timo Maas took a long time to craft "Pictures," the follow-up to his debut "Look" -- apparently, it took two years. A mix'n'match of catchy big beats and ominous electrofunk, this sounds a lot like an intense party going on in a haunted house.

That sound starts off in the second song, which is also the title track. Brian Molko of Placebo takes over most of the vocals, and intones ominously how he won't touch or hurt the subject "unless you ask me to." Man, it's creepy. "Now take off your clothes/I wanna take pictures of you/I wanna capture you... in digital..."

After making your skin crawl with that one, Timo Maas opts for some straightforward dance tracks, full of expansive flourishes and wild big beats. After such a sinister opener, they sound rather lightweight; they're not, but that's the first impression I got. It takes awhile for the darker vibe to gradually return, in the uplifting bubbling of "Enter My World."

Then this album shifts into the hip-hop vibe, and it's not a change for the better. Things are okay when it's just Kelis murmuring above a dancey guitar melody, but then we reach the raw synth, Latin guitar and distorted rap of "Release." The latter should have been left off; the lack of dimension doesn't suit Timo Maas's sound at all.

Fortunately, Mass then shifts back to the dark synth, explosive beats and rapid pace that he does best of all. Some of them are gritty, some are epic, and some are ethereal. But all of them are vaguely ominous, and Molko's eerily dispassionate singing is even better than it was in the early songs of this album.

Fortunately, that dark sound is what dominates this album, and what keeps it from being just another album you can shake it to. Despite some disappointing remix albums, the German technomaster proves that he still has it; the creepy soundscapes, vocals, and eerie sputters and electronic beeps -- in some songs, it sounds like lightning frying a computer.

This isn't a perfect album by any stretch; the hip-hop sounds contrived, and there are spots of filler material. Yet Timo Maas's "Pictures" is a darkly atmospheric album that takes awhile to sink it, but is worth it.