Customer Reviews

Release

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's a toss-up in my mind whether Release or the sadly out-of-print White Noise is Cop Shoot Cop's best album. Of the two, Release is certainly the more accessible, though an accessible C$C album is by no means easy listening. The band infamous for their no-guitar approach bring in a guitarist for their final outing, as well as other incongruous instruments such as harmonica or trumpet. Also, Jim Coleman plays the piano a lot more on this album than in previous ones. However, Cop Shoot Cop's sound is still basically the same: dual bass attack, harsh banging drums, unsettling samples and gritty lyrics sung gruff. This is the easiest album of the band's to find, so by all means pick it up. Also, consider checking out the band members' disparate new projects: Firewater, Here, Phylr and Red Expendables.

Ironically, my first introduction to Tod Ashley's music was through his current klezrock incarnation, Firewater. What immediately grabbed me was his incredible voice, followed quickly by his lyrics and songwriting. Eventually, I followed the trail of dried blood back to this album - the absolute pinnacle of No-Wave. Sure, people will drop names like Arto Lindsay's DNA, or Lydia Lunch's Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, but Cop Shoot Cop were never, ever surpassed, and this is their finest moment. Every single song is a brooding, jagged mess of bass-heavy songwriting and percussive stomp ("Ambulance Song" in particular has an absolutely AWESOME drum part), but the ones that stick out most are "It Only Hurts When I Breathe," "Two At A Time," "Any Day Now," and especially "Ambulance Song." Blow your brains out, baby.

This album is ridiculous it's so friggin amazing. You almost want to laugh, the album is so damn creative and brilliant... and dark! "Ambulance Song" could be one of the best songs ever written, and it really captures the whole ambience these guys project with every album they put out. "Any Day Now" is a great song with some funny lines... "One of these days I'll find these truths to be self evident..." I also think the "Divorce Song" has incredible lyrics, and the way the song ends is like bleeding to death from slit wrists while relaxing in a rusty porcelain bath in a hole-in-the-wall apartment. "Turning Inside Out" is another favorite of mine, and the first three songs are also very very good. The final song is unusually punchy but I also like that one very much, since it has the energy of a punk song (I happen to like punk rock a lot). You won't be disappointed.

With this album Cop Shoot Cop achieve the pinnacle (or should that be the depths?) of the jaded darkness they were threatening us with during their entire career. This is some of the most cynical and sinister music you will ever hear. (How's "and Santa, he is bleeding, some punk shot him in the eye" for cynicism?).

At the same time, Tod Ashley is one of the finest lyricists / storytellers in the field. The tale of "The Divorce" is gutwrenching, and with one line (for example, "and the clouds outside your bedroom windowpane resemble crippled children limping slowly across the sky," from "Ambulance Song") he can completely capture any atmosphere he chooses.

It's an excellent album.

I think I heard them -94, or -95 for the first time, Any day now, was the first song i heard, I loved it from the beginning. When I bought the Cd, I realized, that it was one of the best...

Mixing 5 star- songs like Any day now, Ambulance song, Lullaby, and Divorce, on one Cd is a very good job!!!!!!!!!

Good stuff- listen to these innovative tunes if you want to hear music with heart!

A relic of 1990s industrial meets grunge, this album is the most user-friendly of all of Cop Shoot Cop's albums.

I listened to the CD when it first came out in '94 and thought it was great. The band uses the industrial sound mixed with a little techno. Loved it, especially the song called, "one of these days".