Customer Reviews

Splinter

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sneaker Pimp's second album, their 1999 release Splinter, is my favorite collection of their work. Many fans were disappointed at the lack of Kelli Dayton's vocals after this follow-up to Becoming X, but I like Chris Corner's voice just as much, if not better. It has a masculine yet delicate feel to it that has a way of drifting through the music rather than contrasting it. It truly complements the mood of Sneaker Pimps: hypnotic, dark, lustful, and enchanting trip-hop. In the cases of the albums Bloodsport and Splinter, the Sneaker Pimps are trip-hop with an acoustic presence, blending their sound with rock.

Out of their three albums thus far, Splinter has the most inspired lyrics. They don't get repetitious (as with Bloodsport), they explore several themes, and they are the most poetic--not only in the images themselves, but the way the lines flow. An example (from "Destroying Angel"): "Like the stones beneath the water that you walk on to be taller/The hands you stuck together when you prayed you'd wait forever."

The builds in this album are amazing. Songs will start off as subtle, gain some force, and then reach mind-blowing peaks--this especially occurs in "Lightning Field," Destroying Angel," and "Ten to Twenty." Despite my mood, Splinter always feels welcome.

It took me a while to get into this CD when I first got it because I was very closed minded when it came to music, at the time. All I knew was that I loved the Sneaker Pimps first album, Becoming X, enough to pay $25 for this CD. I also knew that Kelli Ali had left the band, so I wasn't sure what Chris Corner's vocals would sound like...and I had nowhere to sample this CD, so I just went ahead and bought it. At first I wasn't sure what to think of it, but the more I listened to it, I fell in love with his voice. The lyrics are very emotional and honest, and I've grown to love that about the Sneaker Pimps, among a million other things. Now, I can't imagine what my life would be like without these Sneaker Pimps CD's...I've overplayed them so much that I've annoyed my boyfriend with them and they've become a big part of my life and my memories.
Picking favorite songs on this album, or any of the Sneaker Pimps albums, is very difficult, but if I were to choose some to recommend to others I would choose "Ten To Twenty", "Flowers and Silence", "Destroying Angel", "Half Life", & "Low Five" for starters. I highly recommend this album.

Sneaker Pimps. A growing band which debuted in 1996 with the acclaimed album "Becoming X". Unfortunately , Kelli Ali left the band and vocals were taken over by guitarist Chris Corner, the original writer of the songs. Very diffrent than "Becoming X" in a positive way, "Splinter" is much more of acoustic guitar and rock than electronica, which was seen on "Becoming X". This is not something to look down to. Now with Chris in the lead this gives "Splinter" a cleaner, fresher, and crisp sound. He gives each track vocals of sexuality and power. The lyrics are beautiful and touching. The album's standout track is DEFINITELY "Destroying Angel", but everyone has their favorites. Each song leaves you with a feeling you cant explain and haunts you. This album as well as other albums from sneaker pimps has touched my life vastly. I relate to the music so easily and felt like i wrote the lyrics myself. They have now become my favorite band of all time with this album (you should also check out the newer album "Bloodsport"). If you love acoustic guitar and rock-type anguish, this is not an album to be missed!
Buy this now!!You will not be dissapointed in the least.That is guarenteed and assured!

Following the success of their 1996 debut album, `Becoming X', Sneaker Pimps return with their sophomore offering, `Splinter'. There has been a substantial change of emphasis in style and presentation with the sacking of their vocalist to enable the linchpin of the band, Chris Corner, to move centre stage. "It just wasn't working out", Chris tactfully said whilst clutching a post-gig can of beer; hinting that the image of the band was in danger of taking it somewhere he didn't want to go.

Such a change from female to male vocals may seem somewhat radical, but the dark lyrical content remains: `now your newspeak's aging thin/ a pale and hanging faith/ a devil sick on sin' he laments on `Curl'. Indeed the greater change is in the music with the trip-hop feel giving way to harsher rhythms and brooding guitar work, of which the lead single `Low Five' is a fine example. The album lacks consistency, however, and the second single, `Ten to Twenty' is noticably weaker. Tracks such as `Wife by Two Thousand' and the title track itself promise but fail to deliver. Overall a bit of a disappointment, but if anyone is searching for an update of those bass heavy gothic standards they should go out of their way to hear the stand out track `Superbug'. It may be that Sneaker Pimps are merely regrouping, so to speak, but the problem is that they may find that their level of success mirrors the musical mood: down.

I heard Becoming X on a friend's cd - I thought it was great, so I looked around for more Pimps cds. I found Splinter. I thought it may be different - it was. It's a much more thoughtful album. It's heavier, 'rockier', darker and much more beautiful. It took me about five listens, to decide whether or not I liked the album, but I think that that, is one of its major qualities. Every time I listen to it, I get more out of it and like it more. It deserves much more recognition than it gets. It is a great album, with some weird moments. It is definitely not a sequel to Becoming X, but it is a great album in its own right. THe Sneaker Pimps, for me, are 'up there' with Radiohead as being able to create interesting music that is often complicated, takes thinking about, and is often creepingly beautiful. I hope thieir next album Bloodsport is as good.

This is an incredibly sophisticated album, and explores much more territory than Becoming X. All the tracks are solid through to the end though my favourites are the first four. Like most good music, Splinter takes a while to get used to, but it is definitely worth persevering with this one. I would call it 'rocktronica' and place it somewhere between Massive Attack, Placebo and Radiohead, but this is unfair as it is very special and unique in its own right. I don't buy many CDs but I didn't have to think hard about paying the import for Splinter.

From start to finish, this is by far one of the best album's I have heard in the past five years. It's a shame this never got imported to the U.S. like Becoming X did, for this album puts Becoming X to shame. Don't get me wrong--I love the first Sneaker Pimps album, but the tracks often use a simple repetitive beat with lity versailtity to carry an entire track, a good example of such being Tesko Suicide. The music here has an entirely different range, and while I do miss the original female vocalists voice, she simply could not have sung with the blood curdling desperation that this singer manages to reach at certain times--the best example of this being Superbug, one of the better tracks on the album--the female vocalist of Becoming X could never have matched the ferocity of Chris's voice here. His voice is, by all accounts, on par if not better than Kelly's. Becoming X is good for what it is, but Splinter is on an entirely different plataeu of music. It vastly surpasses its predecessor.

Becoming X was an awesome album. It defined a trip hop sound for so many clubbers and radio listeners, combining elements of beats, acoustics, ambience and some rock. However, it was confined, and too mechanical. Chris kicking their lead singer Kelly out of the band was a poor move critically, causing audiences and mainstream to turn their backs. However, it was an advantage on their part, as Chris moved to guitar AND vocals. Suddenly, they were an entirely different band. SPLINTER sounds like they have broken free of their restraints from the mainstream sound of SIX UNDERGROUND and SPIN SPIN SUGAR, which had become harnesses against the sound they really wanted to make. This escape comes in so many different sounds; in beautiful ambience, in haunting acoustics, and in sonic rock that seems to rock out yet not in a way that has become known in metal and hard rock. In their own way; the Sneaker Pimps way. SPLINTER has helped changed my entire out look on music. It has also shown me how a brilliant cd can be trashed by critics, under-rated in a world where Britney Spears and Robbie Williams control the opinions of critics and the airwaves. "Half Life" "Destroying Angel" and "Superbug" are three of the Pimps' best songs, and three of my favorite songs ever. People complain that they miss Kelly and they want the old SP back. I tell them to actually try closing their mouth, opening their ears and listening to the music, not hearing it. SPLINTER is a rare album with a rare sound. Ambient and acoustic trip hop at it's best. However, something this beautiful must be sought out in your own interests. You won't hear it on the radio or see it on TV. It's an isolated work, and I think everyone should give it a try and listen to what the Sneaker Pimps are truly capable of.

i can't stop listening to this album; it's amazing! i love _every_ tune.. "destroying angel" is playing on my mp3 player now. i'm really glad they ditched their old singer. my x girlfriend used to play becoming X in her car, and their then-singers voice got old all too quickly. this album is very dark, and very amazing. i listen to this album a lot when i'm curled up in some filthy nook, really deep into my work (probably how i spend about 45% of my time now). i can't believe "splinter" didn't get released in the states! boo! i'd say 'everyone needs to buy this album' but unfortunately a lot of people, including a lot of the old sneaker pimps fans, are too inept to really enjoy it.

OK, so I loved Becoming X as much as the next guy or girl. But, after hearing Splinter, I have to say that Becoming X feels, well, insubstantial... light... ultimately forgettable. Splinter doesn't have the same pop, commercial appeal and probably won't appeal to everyone. It's denser, darker, more brooding... a violent collision between gothic and trip hop. I don't have much of a reference to compare Splinter to -- it's miles from Becoming X -- but I'd venture to say if you like the later Portishead and Massive Attack, you'll keep this CD in heavy rotation.