Customer Reviews

Ribbons & Sugar

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Probably my favorite record by Gatsby's out of their 3 records released so far. Although, I'm dying for a new full-length (look for their new release in 2005 from Fearless Records) after playing this cd a bazillion times. I couldn't disagree more with that Derek guy though

"It seems as if at some point, every punk band is going to have their breakthrough, and I've been surprised since July 2003 that it hasn't happened yet. This cd was great when I bought it in July and it is still great now in February, along with their first release which sounds like a mere rookie version of this cd (thats a good thing). This band appeals to emo lovers with his singing style and creative lyrics but also a little to pop punk lovers, if poppy kids can get used to his voice and their erractic yet so talented song changes. This is a must for guitar lovers, this cd and their debut why we fight. Just like Fallout Boy, Story of the Year, even Rancid and AFI who all just got on MTV, Gatsby's will eventually as well. But for now, the album is amazing. "

Ugh, don't even staple this group as emo or pop-punk, if you've met the actual guys and talked to them, they're nothing close to emo/pop-punk, the closest to emo pop punk is their Why We Fight record, which even still had a cool Propagandi feel to it that made it stick out. Gatsby's has always had a distinctive sound to them, through out their albums, and they're influencing and being copied by sooo many local bands here.

I hope they don't end up on MTV, or if they do, I hope they don't change their awesome sound. I can't wait for the full-length.

Buy all their cd's, support this awesome group. They deserve it!

Gatsby's latest, "Volcano," has already been described as a little bit of everything: post-punk, prog, alt-country, dream pop. "Ribbons and Sugar" is no worse. The playing is tight, focused, and creative -- melodic but edgy in the tradition of the very best punk bands, and stylistically the instrumentation is both textured and full of variety.

The songwriting is head and shoulders above 99% of what you're likely to hear anywhere else, in Gatsby's genre (whatever that may be) or elsewhere. Each song here is a short punky blast of guitar rock that has an uncanny ability to seamlessly metamorphosize through various stages of development in the blink of an eye. Far from standard "verse-chorus-verse" fare, the songs on "Ribbons and Sugar" are truly unpredictable in their form and structure. Hearing a riff used more than once in different sections of a Gatsby's song is about as rare as a screen door on a submarine sandwich. Far from being fodder for comparisons to Zappa or Mr. Bungle, the transitions are somehow perfect and don't disrupt the flow of the tunes at all.

Guitarists everywhere rejoice upon hearing this album. If the revved-up punk of the lead-off track "We're Not Orphans" doesn't knock you down, then the rabid, pedal-delayed faux slide guitar riffage on "Apparition" will. When these guys do write a more straightforward pop ditty, such as on the totally stripped-down, sugar-in-the-gas-tank balladry of "The Horse You Rode In On," the results are equally stunning.

There is no concept of verse or chorus in Gatsby's music, just a concept of what sounds good: movement. And trust me -- whether you're the type who wants something to chill out to outside on a summer day, the type who plays guitar like a religion and worships axes like holy crosses, or someone who just wants to get down and dance... Gatsby's American Dream WILL make you move. Get it, and get "Volcano," too.

i really enjoyed this cd! i really love the band! they are one of the best out there in my opinion, i think that if you like music because of the lyrics and reality then you will definitely enjoy this cd!

Man, don't even compare this band to the likes of the emo trash out there. Don't even compare the vocals to sissies like chris carabba, patrick stump, and adam lazzara. It definitely isn't a low voice, but it's kind of in the same boat as Ben Folds, can go really high but never sounds anything emo (Emo vocals=annoying, stale, whiny, sissy, a disgrace to all men, etc), Emo bands are probably their most distant cousin, and that distant is about a thousand miles. I don't consider this band emo. Gatsby's American Dream is pretty unclassifable, or at least doesn't fit into one particular genre.

Ribbons and Sugar is only 28 minutes long, but three songs feel more complete than a whole album by ________ tards like fallout boy, hawthorne heights, and it accomplishes more than most bands accomplish in their entire careers (and do everything a million times better, too). They do this by pretty much rejecting all structures of music, never repeating anything, and not following typical song structures (intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, outro). I call their songs a bunch of passages, and they can any length, from the whole song (The Horse You Rode in On) to a mere ten seconds or so (like the intro to Counterfeit Language). Describing the variety of this album would take forever, so just listen for yourself. If you like catchy guitar rock/pop, you would probably adore this album (listening to this makes me wish I could play guitar beyond simple strumming).

And the lyrics themselves, well, Ribbons and Sugar is said to be a refrence to Animal Farm, The Horse You Rode In On starts with Nic singing about a book, and their name is based on The Great Gatsby after all. In short, no self pity sad-sack whining on this album. I like the line to the end of Apparation "Time to fight, time to fight, time to be a better man!". I even heard that Recondition, Reprogram, Reactivate was about playing Halo, though this was unconfirmed from somebody who said they heard it from a radio station of some random guy that wasn't part of the band. And you probably could relate to this, after all, books are about what humans go through. So the lyrics beat out pretty much everything that their retarded, distant cousins try to pass as meaning full. Yeah right.

So it isn't exactly perfect, as a bit of the vocals are difficult to stomach (The Horse You Rode In On, Apparation, and We're Not Orphans have about four to eight seconds of vocals that borderline on emo), and It occasionally falls in the trap of boring pop punk (that's not saying much, since those parts are usually over in the time it takes me to walk to the kitchen, and not back). It's not my favorite album by Gatsby's American Dream, but it's addicting and bursts with so many passages you'll have to listen quite a bit. Recommended even for emo haters, after all, this band is too good to be called emo. Sing along, rock out, air guitar, air bass, and air drum. NOW!!!!!!!

9.5/10

Gatsby's American Dream has made one of the best albums that i have heard in a very, very long time. Every single song from the into to the finish is awesome and unique in it's own way. Their style is completely original and is something that i can't even explain it's so beautifully unique. Songs like "Apparition", "We're Not Orphans" and "Cut the Strings" are songs anybody can listen to for hours and hours. I am so glad i found out about such an unbelievable band.

Gatsby's American Dream is one of the most highly regarded bands out there. In the previous 3 years, they have consistanly released 2 full lengths ('Why We Fight' - 2001 & 'Ribbons & Sugar' - 2002)and an EP ('In The Land Of Lost Monsters' - 2004). Each of the records released are amazing, and very different from each other. Since then, Gatsby's American Dream have been linked to loads of label, before signing a deal with Fearless Records.

'Ribbons & Sugar', which is based around George Orwell's 'Animal Farm', demonstrates why exactly they are such a highly regarded band. I must admit, having bought this record without hearing any of there songs, except one on their previous record, i expected them to be 'pop-punk'. But on this record, there really isn't a genre. I was sort of taken a back, and wasn't totally into it. But after a few more listens, i totally fell in. From the instrumental finess of 'The Taming', to the fast upbeat songs such as 'Work Lies Sex Love Feat Hate Friendship' and 'Apparation', to the amazingly delicate, 'The Horse You Rode In On', to the final track 'Counterfeit Language', they demostrate a very wide range of musically talents. They experiment with different time signitures, and some unusual guitar work. Also, each track is really hard to explain, because it is very complex with so many different break downs, and it can go from a fast to slow within a few seconds. What is very different, is how the lead signer has such a polished, and has such a wide range in his vocal ability.

Overall, Gatsby's American Dream's 'Ribbons & Sugar' is an exceptional release. Though the whole record is just under 30 minutes, with only 2 tracks over passing the 3 minute mark, they are unique and refreshing to everything thats overloading the airwaves, and they are very unpredictable. It's really amazing how fast a band can transform within a year, and release such an amazing album. Having said that, its clear they have a bright future, and they are defiently one to keep an eye out for.

It seems as if at some point, every punk band is going to have their breakthrough, and I've been surprised since July 2003 that it hasn't happened yet. This cd was great when I bought it in July and it is still great now in February, along with their first release which sounds like a mere rookie version of this cd (thats a good thing). This band appeals to emo lovers with his singing style and creative lyrics but also a little to pop punk lovers, if poppy kids can get used to his voice and their erractic yet so talented song changes. This is a must for guitar lovers, this cd and their debut why we fight. Just like Fallout Boy, Story of the Year, even Rancid and AFI who all just got on MTV, Gatsby's will eventually as well. But for now, the album is amazing.

Ribbons and Sugar mixes a complicated, but close to perfect balance of personal influence in its songs, and a basis from the book Animal Farm. The songs are short but sweet. The lead singer actually sings instead of screaming his heart out, and the guitar, drums, and bass and flow smoothly with the lyrics. The lyrics are smart and have meaning. Ribbons and Sugar is the best Gatsbys American Dream Cd to date.