Customer Reviews

She Wants Revenge

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(47)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(33)

 

 

It seems to me that She Wants Revenge have been taking some heat by the press - heat which is rather undeserved in my opinion. So they're not the most original band on the planet, but who is original these days? They're easily pigeonholed into the '80s revival genre which has been trendy for about 2 or 3 years now, but that's no reason to write them off.

She Wants Revenge seem to have invited surprising (IMO) comparisons to the Killers, the band credited with becoming the first huge stars of the aforementioned movement. Let's see - The Killers have rather shallow lyrics (which you know from the chorus of "Somebody Told Me"), sound like a total Duran Duran knockoff, and all of the members weren't even born until after Ian Curtis of Joy Division committed suicide and were just coming into this world when Depeche Mode released their first album ... so if you ask me, these guys are rather undeserving of their credibility.

She Wants Revenge, on the other hand, have a more moody, atmospheric sound that has far more in common with Joy Division, Depeche Mode, even Bauhaus (when I first heard opening track "Red Flags And Long Nights", I was waiting for them to start singing "Bela Lugosi Is Dead") than Duran Duran. There's also a few songs that are more percussive and channel a vibe reminiscent of New Order, like "I Don't Wanna Fall In Love". While the lyrics aren't always top-notch, they are engaging and far less repetitive than some other bands. The songs are catchy enough to earn them radio exposure (as the success of "Tear You Apart" proves, but SWR are not a pop group - many of the song lengths go beyond the typical 3 or 4 minute pop song format that The Killers operate within exclusively, and much of the subject matter doesn't lend itself to spins on your local "hit music" station between Kelly Clarkson and Fall Out Boy. And SWR's band members are old enough to have heard Depeche Mode and New Order (though not necessarily Joy Division) when their albums were coming out, right around the time that the members of The Killers were playing with toys and drinking their Kool-Aid.

Frontman Justin Warfield has received some criticism for not allowing himself to be bound by one genre's parameters - I actually applaud him for this, as it shows off his versatility. In 1993 he put out a clever alternative hip-hop album (My Field Trip To Planet 9), and then in 1995 he went in a hard-charging classic rock direction (The Justin Warfield Supernaut), and 11 years later, we have the early '80s influenced She Wants Revenge. Perhaps he would be deserving of the criticism if all of the aforementioned efforts were weak, but they have all been commendable. It is here that we find out that he can sing in a brooding baritone with the best of them. Combine said baritone with linear guitar riffs and you'll find that they sound somewhat like their contemporaries Interpol, and while this isn't quite as strong as that band due to the monochromatic nature of the lyrics (not necessarily a knock - I think this is SWR's way of establishing an identity for themselves) they might be on their way to putting out a modern classic if they can progress.

In summary: This is one of those instances where an album receives unfair criticism due to the old "trend-hopping" accusation - it happened to The Bravery last year, and now it's She Wants Revenge's turn. Give them a chance, and you'll find that unlike the highly overrated Killers, they have much more to offer than tame one-dimensional Duran Duran-esque pop/rock. SWR is definitely one of the most promising bands in this genre despite their late arrival - the emphasis on lyrics that are often clever, usually melodramatic and sometimes unintentionally humorous (in a good way) along with the engaging songs make this worth picking up.

I really like this album; I like the music, I like the lyrics (I think they blend prosaic, dark, and elegant words wonderfully with equally interesting music) - but most of all I am amazed by the reviews I have found on Amazon: Three groups of people (a) "I give it a 1, this is a fake", (b) "I give it a 4, clearly has a lot of influences but I still like it, and (c) "I give it a 5 - it is spectacular."

And who are they immitating? Interpol? Joy Division? Bauhuas? the Cure? I clearly am not well versed in the popular music literature because people seemed to blame She Wants Revenge for ripping off just about any band that has had a song that sounds like them - personally, I think if they are IN FACT able to integrate the some 3 dozen bands mentioned here, just on Amazon, then we should be praising them as musical geniuses: using old influences to create something unique that (apparently) can't be accurately placed on any one artist...well isn't that what art is?

I would love it if Amazon started working Professor Mikhail Gronas's rating system - this debut album certainly is controversial enough to burn a hole into the music world and I absolutely love it.

She Wants Revenge consists of Adam Bravin and Justin Warfield. Working with drum machines and an array of keyboards and synthesizers, augmented by the occasional electric guitar, the duo has gradually been building buzz in the last 18 months. This is their debut album.

"She Wants Revenge" (10 tracks, plus one hidden track; 64 min.) is so deeply rooted in Joy Division and early New Order, you are going to enjoy this album tremendously if you like those bands. If you don't, don't waste your time or money. There are really no weak tracks as such. First single "These Things" is an enjoyable hum-along. "Out of Control" is a great club-song ("The Lights That Move Sideways and Up and Down/The Beat Takes You Over and Spins You Round"). The best is saved for last: first there is the new single "Tear You Apart", which both musically and lyrically is a derivative of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart", but oh so catchy! Then there is the "hidden" bonus track, which plays as track 66 on my CD player, a great 7+ min. epic song and a perfect way to end the album.

While She Wants Revenge often gets mentioned along the same lines as Interpol due to the connection to/influence by, musically She Wants Revenge is in fact much closer to, say, the Faint. I saw She Wants Revenge live about a year ago, and immediately took a liking to their music. The debut album is finally out, and one of the best releases of early 2006. BUY IT!

She Wants Revenge lyrics are like glimpses into the tiny pieces that make up relationships. The fact that you only see these pieces make them more intriguing.

The music is extremely sensual with a sinister edge that creates an intoxicating mix. The tracks are great to just sit back and feel without analyzing.

If you are the impatient type this CD may not be to your liking. The songs will proceed at their own pace.

I first heard "Tear You Apart" on satellite radio and thought it would be my favorite on the CD. Now I can't pick just one track. It would be awesome to hear more fast songs like "I Don't Wanna Fall in Love" in a future CD. "These Things" and "Sister" have imaginative lyrics. However, "She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not" is more of a ballad and not to my taste.

The biggest surprise for me was when I saw them perform. I had no idea what to expect because I knew nothing about the group. Yet their performance perfectly matched what I had pictured from listening to the CD. Creepy - but in a good way!

Hello, don't rappers do it every freaking day? At least their not covering these bands! I hear Depeche Mode/Rapture/Bauhaus maybe even some Cure...But who the hell cares! I say we need MORE music like this! Doesn't every stupid Jessica/Britney/Ashlee/Christina song sound exactly the same! I have to give props to She, for their 'Bravery' and comming together with a gothic style that needs to be repeated! I have been a Cure/Depeche fan since I was like 13! And am hyped that more bands are comming out sounding like them! I'm tired of hip hop/pop girls and love hearing these kinds of new bands that can still play the goth/alterna music of my days! I give it a two thumbs up! Very enjoyable...But if you're not into it, don't buy it!

I have to admit -- as a child of the 80s, I have been super-critical of so-called alternative bands of recent years. And the rash of bands of late trying to sound 80s-alternative have been SO diappointing . . . but FINALLY SWR has managed to sound TRULY alternative. Yes, I know they are not necessarily unique -- the first time I heard "Tear You Apart," I thought I was listening to the first minute of "Bela Legosi's Dead," but I don't care. These guys rock! If you are a bauhaus, Joy Division, and/or New Order fan, you will truly not be disappointed!

She Wants Revenge is an LA-based duo, the latest discovery of hammy-frontman-turned-talent-scout Fred Durst. Yes, that Fred Durst (don't knock him in this realm - he gave us the unheralded but very worthwhile Kenna). They craft their sound by heavily borrowing from a number of early new wave and alternative acts, and as such are often either hailed as the next great throwbacks or else reviled as shameless rip-offs. The truth is that they're somewhere in the middle - while they're certainly not creating anything "new" here, they also don't deserve to be instantly dismissed as hacks for using some familiar elements from bands gone by.

Their sound mixes the angular guitar and haunted atonal vocals of Bauhaus with the stiff sequenced electronic rythyms of Berlin, Dead or Alive, Devo, etc. The lead single, "Tear You Apart" is like a mash-up of "Bela Lugosi's Dead" and The Nails' "88 Lines About 44 Women". There are other influences on display throughout the album: early Cure, later Depeche Mode ("Red Flags and Long Nights" contains the exact chord progression used in the acoustic version of "Personal Jesus"), Joy Division & early New Order, etc. I don't agree with the Interpol comparisons because SWR isn't nearly as melodic or emotional in their content.

Eventually, the lock step of the old school electro-beats and the drone of the vocals can get to be a bit much, i.e. there's not enough to distinguish the tracks from each other. The lyrics are also mostly sophomoric, endlessly going on about creepy desires, relationship drama and tragedy, and clubbing.

All in all, it's good to hear the old tried-and-true concepts of early alternative and new wave music dusted off and given a new run. Is this innovation? Of course not. But SWR's debut delivers a danceable, listenable album that has several catchy highlights.

I can never recall the word, but it's for people that always talk about "the good-ol' days".. and how everything today sucks.. these people are very quick to call new things bad and old things "the best it's ever going to be".. I think the negativity towards SWR is a clear example of this.

when I listen to Joy Division, I don't find that much similarity between their music and Ian's vocals, and that of SWR.. I don't know what the big fuss is.. even if it is similar - like one person has said here - isn't that what you want? more of the kind of music you like?

I love SWR.. I'm a big fan of New Order / Joy Division and Depeche Mode too.

lastly.. what's the huge comparison with Interpol? if anyone sounds like Interpol's singer, it's his predecessors, REM, Echo and the Bunnymen, etc.. and music-wise, SWR is way more synth-laden than Interpol - way more droney, machine-like.

Honestly now...if "Tear You Apart" doesn't make you want to have some hot sweaty sex after a turn on the dance floor, then there must be something wrong with you.

So what if She Wants Revenge isn't totally original? All these neo-80's bands (the first of which were The Strokes, not The Killers, who came almost two years later) are basically taking what worked in the 80's and updating it, drawing heavily from eachother. Nothing is original anymore.

They've mixed Interpol's vocals, with Fischerspooner's sex-driven beats, and Depeche Mode's 80's feel. The result is great. The songs are sexy, great for dancing, and have much better lyrics than most of the other bands of this generation (coughTheKillers).

This is a fun cd, and definitely worth buying.

Someone once said to me that the lead singer of She Wants Revenge is trying too hard to sound like the lead singer of Interpol. To which I replied, isn't the lead singer of Interpol just trying to sound like the lead singer of Joy Division? One of the origional post-punk groups? Who cares if a group sounds like some classic band who did it better?...as long as said band does it pretty well too? And She Wants Revenge does it pretty well. Their music is interesting and so are their lyrics. And who cares if if it gives a nod to Section 25 or Joy Division or Depeche Mode or whoever? The songs COULD be a little more varied but the fact they aren't doesn't diminish their entertainment quality much. Just enjoy it and stop trying to be cool or hip by name-dropping classic groups that She Wants Revenge may sound a little like.