Customer Reviews

Soft Machine

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Disclaimer: this is not my usual genre of music, inasmuch as I prefer rock and adult contemporary. After hearing the appetizer "Cobrastyle" as a current staple of the alternative radio realm, I was anxious to see the full menu. I also heard an interview of the three core band members from Stockholm about 3 weeks ago.

The album is an eclectic mix of techno pop, shining brightest when showcasing the irresistible thumping dance rhythms. The overall experience brought back a certain frenetic dance energy I haven't felt in over 10 years. Overall, I am very glad I bought it. I expect it will be a hit at any party. Turn the volume up and let loose!

The highlights for me are "Cobrastyle", "Different Sound", and "Little Stereo."

Normally I avoid Punk,Techno-Dance, types of music like the plague. But after purchasing and listening to TeddyBears "Soft Machine," I'm sold and this is coming from a 43 year old American male. Good music like all art spans the Globe, Cultures, and Generations.

What it is, it's basic commercial music, but it's not completely annoying. In fact, holistically it's not annoying at all. It's actually quite satisfying. Different Sound, Yours to Keep, Black Belt, and Alma are great. And some songs like Are You Feelin' It and Automatic Lover tend to be a little too basic. But overall, I wasn't even into this kind of music before but this changed things. Actually it didn't. I just listen to this CD over and over again.

Very catching electronic pop album. I first heard of them from the Tag commercials, but "Cobrastlye" is not even the best song on the CD. "Punkrocker" and "Riot going on" are my two favorites. I highly recommend this album...and if you are a little unsure, check out their myspace fo preview full tracks...that's what I did!

Like others who have reviewed this album, I am NOT a big fan of punk rock.. but after hearing the track "Punkrocker" on XM, I knew I had to have this album. As it turns out the entire album is awesome! It is techno punk, yes.. and repetitive at times.. but catchy as heck. lol. I find myself skipping around to different tracks trying to decide which is my favorite. It's still Punkrocker. lol

I saw these guys at Coachella last year and not only do they put on an amazing performance, there studio work is nothin short of superb. This is definitely an album you can put on and listen from track 1 until the very end and get into every minute! All my buddies are hooked!

Fun, fun, fun. I've listened to this for almost a year and am not yet tired of it. You can't wait to hear what the next track will bring. I've turned several friends onto this CD and we all keep it at the top of our CD stack.

Punkrocker is the best track on the album, but in whole this thing is just loads of fun. Anyone who likes to rock will absolutely dig this album. Get it now!

Absolutely awesome! Propulsive, tight and addictive. Plus, it's not just me -- I've played this at my house parties, and EVERYONE asks me who this is.

Every time I fall in love with a track, the next track makes me re-think my position. Each time I listen, I'm amazed at their ingenuity.

Like many Americans, my first exposure to the this Teddybears album was through the Iggy Pop-voiced single "Punkrocker". I've always had a fondness for European techno (unlike Americans, the folk on the other side of the pond seem to understand the idea of using variation to keep their mixes interesting), and the synthesized background tracks were catchy, so I went to check out the whole album. The results were a little different than I expected - while "Punkrocker" is definitely in the same vein as the rest of the songs, it's definitely not representative of the album as a whole. There is a wide range of themes and attitudes here, as evidenced by the myriad guest vocalists. What ties it all together, however, is the persistent dance sound that will have you moving to the music almost subconsciously.

Whether or not you'll be into the album as a whole depends mostly on whether you're open to revisiting the 80s early-techno genre. For those who appreciate the style, there's much to like - old-school primitive synthesizer tracks are overlaid with some excellent vocal turns (other standouts include Elephant Man's "Are You Feelin' It" and Neneh Cherry's "Yours to Keep"). The experimental time-capsule nature of the album verges on self-awareness at times, with results ranging from biting (the lyrics of "Punkrocker") to amusing (the vocal appearance of the Fred voice of the Macintosh Classic in "Automatic Lover"). And while the lyrics are hardly multilayered, the tracks themselves are more than enjoyable enough to justify repeat listening.

"Soft Machine" may be a bit simplistic in scope and execution, but this is a nonetheless enjoyable album that makes a nice alternative to much of the other bubblegum-pop ear candy on the radio today.