Customer Reviews

Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts

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

 

 

I was around in the 1980s, when the Human League, Depeche Mode, New Order and Yaz made the charts. I found their music catchy but kinda dumb. It was a lot more fun to thrash around to Husker Du or Joy Division. Little did I dream that a band could blend these together. That's what the Slants have done.

These people rock HARD. Their lyrics take no prisoners, either. I bought the CD three weeks ago and I still listen to it a couple of times a day. That hasn't happened to me in years, and I listen to a lot of music.

I don't watch anime and I'm not Asian-American. I'm a middle aged white gay dude. But I'm telling you, the Slants are the real thing for ALL of us.

Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts is the debut album from Portland's "The Slants." The music reflects a generous influence from the 1980's synth pop sound that we all know and love: Depeche Mode, Erasure, New Order, The Cure. The Slants seem to combine all of this with a modern twist and a little more of a rock n' roll edge.

"Capture Me Burning" is definitely the most electro/dance sounding of them all, "Vice Versus Virtue" and "Welcome to Doomtown" offer a darker vibe to the sound (obviously paying homage to bands such as The Faint and Joy Division), while "Kokoro" is a sexy dance number with an infectious melody that'll get trapped in your head for days on end.

Aside from the Asian cultural references in the subject matter and the distorted 'koto' used in the introduction, the music doesn't seem to be very "Slanted" at all. In fact, most of the sound is inherently European and American...though the twists offered by The Slants are incredibly refreshing.

Personally I hadn't heard of them until I heard they were coming to Sakuracon 2008. So I looked them up. I fell in love with them instantly. Even my grandmother who is a very traditional Okinawan thought "Sakura Sakura" was awesome. Hearing them live was my favorite part of the weekend and now I take the cd with me wherever I go and play it for anyone who will listen. I just want to spread my love for their music all over the world.

All Asian band from Portland Oregon? Depeche Mode feel to some of their songs? Sounds odd to think of it. But there is nothing odd about their music. Filled with so much soul and energy it's hard to pay attention to anything else other than the music when listening to it.

When I heard The Slants twice in concert, I knew I needed their lastest albums! And this one is my favorite! The music is rocking and very unique. I love how different The Slants are from a lot of bands that are out there! Rock on!

I like when new bands pay full-on homage to the 80s with an album that almost sounds like it could have been made back then.

I really appreciate that they made a raw, un-overproduced set of songs. Too much music today, especially those put out on mega-corporate labels, sounds overproduced, overly commercial and shallow.

While I wish the Slants success I hope they stay on small labels so that the grabbing hands, that grab all they can, won't grab hold of the Slants.

What a great album, mixed like the pros from the 1980's with plenty of diversity and awesome entertainment value. The cool thing is that a rather square new wave loving 40-something Dad like myself can enjoy what these talented artists have to offer and in the same house my high school age daughter is rocking out to Sakura, Sakura, Capture Me Burning, Stranglehold or my personal favorite Kokoro (I Fall to Pieces)..."do you want to cut me up"...Meeting these humble purveyors of great music was only the kicker!!! They are real up and comers with the ability to have great success for years to come!!! Catch them in their earliest days and invest, yes invest in this album!!!! You will enjoy it for years to come!!!