Customer Reviews

Serpentine Gallery

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had never heard of Switchblade Symphony when I bought Wired Injections, a Cleopatra various artists disc. The song of theirs on that disc, "Clown," had me completely entranced. It took me months to find the elusive disc that was mentioned in the liner notes on WI, and when I did finally see it, it was mine. While I was searching for it, I heard "Wallflower" on Gothic Rock 2, which only made me want the disc more. Since the day I got it, it has become one of my all-time favorite discs. If it were a tape or record album, it would be totally worn out by now. This is a disc that you can put in, turn the lights down low, sit back and just drift to. Even my fiance like them, and she doesn't like "goth" music. It's almost impossible for me to pick a single favorite from it, although I'm tempted to say "Clown." It was the one that first entranced me, and it continues to do so to this day. However, it has very strong contenders in "Sweet," "Gutter Glitter," "Mine Eyes," and "Dollhouse." The ending instrumental, "Bloody Knuckles," is the perfect way to end such a perfect album. Bravo, ladies. 5 out of 5.

It's a pity how Switchblade Symphony broke up after only bringing three albums out of brand new material but at least they left us Goth junkies with some memorable tunes that shalt not be forgotten. 'Serpentine Gallery' is a notable CD that should be in the collection of all those who enjoy the darker side of music, but without sounding satanic. This album contains some sure classics, such as "Dollhouse", "Mine Eyes" and "Gutter Glitter" (the chorus being a gloomy mantra of the children's play rhyme, "London Bridge Is Falling Down", which still gives me the creeps), but I personally feel that 'The Three Calamities' is an overall better record that's less redundant and more consistent, although I'm sure many people would love to disagree with me and I'm totally cool with that. To each their own, right?

Tina Root is the main vocalist and she reminds me of The Creature's Siouxsie (a common comparison in this specific genre). Susan Wallace sometimes underlies and harmonizes the singing parts that accent the brooding melodies but she mostly takes care of the synthesizers and programming while Robin Jacobs provide the guitars, bass and drumming on "Wrecking Yard" and, one of my favorite tracks, "Clown". And if you're obsessed with the words, the lyrics are all included inside the booklet.

I really hope that Switchblade Symphony team up again but it's very unlikely... However, wishful thinking can't hurt ... much, anyway.

Forget labels, forget the way they dress.

This record is an excellent piece of 90's electronic psychedelia, with lyrics that are hardly as eeeevil as some folks here would make them out to be. As a first album, this record contains several years' worth of tested material.

But what makes this group stand head and shoulders above its peers is the phenomenal voice of Tina Root. Think: Grace Slick with -range-. Unlike some of her contemporaries, she knows her lyrics won't carry the impact they should, unless she e-nun-ci-ates. Just about every track sounds like a -White Rabbit- with 90's electronic instrumentation.

I know I like music like that. If you think you would, forget the scene, forget the clothes, this is a good record.

This, to me, is the best gothic cd of the dull 90's in the goth scene. in the tradition of Siouxsie and the Banshees, Switchblade Symphony delivers dark poetic lyrics accompined with moody, dreamy, experimental sounding music. Best listened in the middle of the night with the eyes closed. Tina Root places images of flowers,darkness, dollhouses, and other shadowy figures in your mind, and this to me is pure genius. They break the barrier of music, and not just deliver songs but movie like imagery. Starting with the goth rock sounding Bad Trash, and ending with the skipping,(purposefully), piano accompined Bloody Knuckles, the listener will get a treat full of candies aand flowers. Buy this, you wont be dissapointed.

I wish Switchblade Symphony had stuck with this mid-90s sound rather than going trip-hop. Why? I'm a whinybutt, THAT'S why. "Serpentine Gallery" is a great "how to" darkwave rock album. The opening track, "Bad Trash" is a goth dancefloor classic. The songs are a good balance of guitar, 80's synth and spooky vocals. They don't all sound the same, but it sounds like the band's having fun all the way through. The lyrics are better-than-average goth poetry. "Bad Trash," "Dissolve" (dramatic tune, I must say) and "Wrecking Yard" cover a lot of ground and Tina Root's faux-operatic vocal style is cool. Sorry for using "faux." They moved into more Miranda Sex Garden-type music with the next two albums, but the lyrics stayed pretty close to the mood of "Serpentine Gallery." Switchblade Symphony is more about beguiling songs than Fitting Into Goth.

Switchblade Symphony is one of the goth bands that stand out on its own, for these reasons: The lyrics are decipherable, somehow child-like, but yet, hauntingly sexy. Rich with eerie keyboard effects, and not so intense with guitars, although, the guitar work does enhance the mood with the keyboards. I was fortunate be just walking into a CD store and hear this CD playing. The first track that sold me on this CD is the classic sounding, but yet, very original, Gothic Storyteller "Wrecking Yard" Nobody writes like this anymore! And then there's this piece called "Gutter Glitter" which reflects some of history's darkest children's poems. With Tina's sexy voice singing (for example) 'London Bridges Falling Down...' it's very clear that nobody else, no other Goth band, or generic pop singer, can pull off this episode of our past, so hauntingly and so beautiful. Also, on this CD: the short, but sweet track, "Cocoon" reminds me of The Beatles "Because" from Abbey Road. Serpentine Gallery is my most favorite CD of the 1990's. It's so unique. Too bad their follow up CD's "Bread and Jam for Frances" and "The Three Calamities" don't possess the same charm. I believe these two CD's lack the keyboards that make Serpentine Gallery so dark and wonderful. Anyway, if you like Switchblade Symphony's "Serpentine Gallery", some other great titles out there that I would like to recommend are "The Serpent's Egg" by Dead Can Dance, and "Dusk...and Her Embrace" by Cradle of Filth. Not for the vocals, but for the great Gothic keyboard work.

The first time I seen Switchblade was back in 93-94 when house of usher moved to S.F. Not one to be easily impressed, I was overwhelmed by Tina's dark poetry and angelic voice. As a bay area resident I was able to attend most of her concerts at the S.F. goth clubs during her 'serpentine gallery' release. A must see if you are able. Tina is charismatic on stage dressed in wonderful costumes to add flavor to the show. Not only great to listen to but she is down to earth and enjoys staying after the show to mingle with the crowd. Very few artist are able to complete one cd with a multitude of fantastic songs let alone a handfull throughout their career(misp?) but Switchblade Symphony have done so with this cd and a few songs not listed such as Chain and Ride(?). I must admit though that I have not cared much for her latest cd. I cannot place what is wrong wtih it except to say that I dont feel the passion in the songs as I do with Serpentine Gallery. All in all Tina is the Princess of Goth soon to become Queen when the title is handed down by Siouxsie. Hope she playes this October at one of the goth clubs.

My absolute favorite Switchblade Symphony cd. The lyrics are wonderful, the music is good though fairly repetitive at times, and the vocals are outstanding. "Gutter Gliter" is my personal favorite merely due to the catchy melody. It takes listening to this cd multiple times to truly get a good understanding of it, however, once by the time that happens, you're hooked. =) The tracks are fairly diverse both subject wise and musically. "Clown" is also a great track and "wrecking yard" is a personal favorite as well. If there were a 4 1/2 star mark I would probably be more inclined to give it that than a 4, but to me the repetitiveness is enough to make me not give it a perfect score.

Don't look at me like that, just listen to it. There are whales in "Clown". Well, okay, it's probably a synthesizer, but it sounds like a whalesong, really sad and unearthly. This album goes from whales to nursery rhymes (London Bridge will never sound the same to me...), to metaphoric wallflowers, opera, and Dracula's ballroom in the first track. The range is amazing. We want more albums like this. Stay out of the sun, keep this one in your walkman, and you'll be well on your way to a deeper, more vibrant world. At the very least it will feel that way for as long as the album is playing.

This cd is by far the best gothic/darkwave cd I own. The first song Bad Trash opens with a new harsh sound unlike anything I have heard before. The vocals are often operatic and haunting and sometimes varies to a soft tone of complete dispair. Bad Trash just opens the way towards the rest of the disc. Going through the songs Dissolve,Clown & Wrecking Yard sends the listener into a more sedated listening state only to destroy it with songs like Cocoon & Dollhouse. Rounding out the remainder of the cd is Sweet & Gutter Glitter which holds the chilling lines repeated "London bridge is falling down..." As soon as the song ends another intense and haunting song Mine Eyes that echoes the vocals and has thier keyboardist singing harmonies in the background. The next moment you are sedated once again to a peaceful instrumental ending the cd. It litterly is almost an emotional rollercoaster taking listeners places where many other cd's have never been able to go before. If you dont own this cd,you need to! Rated A+