Customer Reviews

In The Pit Of The Stomach (Amazon Exclusive Version)

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

 

 

While comparisons can be dubious and reviews are always personal, I couldn't help but think about how much I disagreed with another Amazon review through the entirety of this album. Where I expected "post-rock" a la Mogwai or Explosions in the Sky, I got something that I would suggest sounds more like a gentler, cleaner At The Drive In. In fact, I don't think any regular listener of post-rock, with it's soundtrack-like compositional style, atmospheric textures, dramatic builds and loopy melodies, would put this into the category.

We Were Promised Jet Packs is filled with tremolo picking and often a loud/soft dynamic, but it is also full of lyrical vocals and quick, constant drum beats. While there are songs that touch on the post-rock aesthetic, such as Sore Thumb, most of the tracks on the album would fit more closely with the aforementioned ATDI, or possibly Sonic Youth. If anything, heavier post-rock acts like Russian Circles or Caspian would be a more appropriate comparison.

However, I was not at all disappointed in the offering. The lyrical content of In the Pit of the Stomach is cliche-free and never cringe-inducing, poetic and Radiohead-esque at times (Act On Impulse), and even at little hooky (Circles And Squares, Hard to Remember). The recording quality of the vocals is interesting - somewhat distant and reverby, and in that sense I could see the mention of Because of Ghosts or Do Make Say Think in the discussion...and who doesn't like a tinge of Scottish accent? The album rarely feels slow, though my ears grew a bit tired of the heavy breakdowns that mark the middle of almost every song. There is, however, a great deal of variety within the album and within each song.

All in all I found this to be an enjoyable album, worth a listen for anyone looking for something new but also something less-than-mainstream - this isn't "Pop" at any moment. While it was not what I expected, it was, indeed, distinctive and artful. Labels can be misleading, for sure, but I think most music critics would put this in the "post-punk" genre.

The band keeps the same footprint of their old jobs, but also demonstrates maturity. Good choice for those who like a good indie rock.

Everything I liked about jetpacks' previous work just got even better on this album. You'll get the same hard, moody, scottish rock, but perhaps with a few more layers and a noticeable Sigur Ros influenced sound on some songs (such as Hard to Remember, Pear Tree, and Sore Thumb). I heard they recorded this album at Sigur Ros's studio, but I have always thought I could hear a little Sigur Ros in the greatest of scottish rock as it seems to have come from the same place. Early standouts for me are Pear Tree, Hard to Remember, and Act on Impulse which will easily be their most broadly appealing song and should send them to another level of popularity. Let's hope that doesn't affect their ability to write amazing music. With one exception every song on the album ranges from great to excellent. I will admit that the album doesn't benefit from the addition of the bonus track. If you end up liking this also try Sigur Rós, The Midnight Organ Fight, Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place, Happy Songs for Happy People.

I love this Scottish post-punk band. The first album,These Four Walls, was outstanding, and their sophomore effort is just as good. Lead singer Adam Thompson has a great voice, which he can modulate in all sorts of interesting ways. Their lyrics are literate, insightful and fun, so the whole album is filled with great lines: "I've been walking in circles and squares and circles again/Kept chasing my tail/It would help if I knew where it ends" from "Circles and Squares" & "Build a fence to keep out the neighbors, but we'll dress our scarecrows the same" from "Picture of Health" or "If I was a writer, I'd write my opinions, and save them for later, just to see how wrong I could be" from "Human Error." The majority of the songs are good, hard-rocking tunes, but when they do slow things down, as with "Pear Tree" and "Build Me A Bridge," the songs are equally powerful and well-crafted tunes that don't feel stuck on simply to vary the pace or prove the band's capable of doing a ballad. I'm a big fan of Frightened Rabbit as well, and while I haven't found the time to give a full listen to Twilight Sad, there is plenty of evidence that there are some exceptional alt/indie bands coming out of Scotland. (And I like the fact that Adam Thompson, like Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit, doesn't sing with such a heavy accent that it would be difficult for an American like me to deciper the lyrics. Now if only American bands like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah -- who I still love -- wouldn't make it so hard for their fans to figure out their lyrics! )

Glasgow, Scotland band's 2nd album is filled with epic, soaring roars of riveting post-rock
grandeur, driven by big pounding drums. It's a place where melodic tension builds through
layers of steamrolling guitar haze, all led by the compelling, powerful Scottish brogue of singer
Adam Thompson. The songs will grab and hold you with an intense grip of emotional power-
thrust, while caressing your inner core with blistering waves of expanding shoegaze drone-bliss.
Beautiful, gripping rock music in a potent, inspiring, thunderous atmosphere. Reminiscent of
Twilight Sad, John Knox Sex Club, Frightened Rabbit, Airborne Toxic Event, Sonic Youth.

I remember when i first heard We Were Promised Jetpacks, i thought "Wow finally something original". Every since then i've been hooked. Glad the new album lived up to my expectations. Great album and worth every penny! Buy itttt