Customer Reviews

Stainless Style (Dig)

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

 

 

This album was a bit of a surprise. I had no expectations at all about it. I'm familiar with Boom Bip but wouldn't necessarily call myself a fan. I haven't really payed attention to his career besides what little he did with Doseone back in the days. What really inspired me to check this band out was Gruff Rhys. For those not familiar with Gruff by name, he is the lead singer of Super Furry Animals. I'll tell you what, this band is pretty great...

It's an electronic 80s throwback album and the production is stellar. Gruff's voice works really nice with the production too. This album is a true gem.

"I Told Her In Alderaan" is my favorite. From the moment it begins, the 80s electronic melodies sound so pure it's hard to believe in came out in 2008 and not 1988. "I Lust U" is another great song. It's got a great dance beat and is just completely hypnotic. "Steel Your Girl" is a subtle, melodic gem. "Dream Girls" sports another incredible beat on the album with some 50s inspired vocal melodies. It's pretty good... I am just a big fan of this album. "Raquel" is like a pure 80s disco number. "Belfast" has an amazing melody to it. "Michael Douglas" is an atmospheric dance song.

All of those songs are stellar. There is something I don't like about this album, however. There are 3 songs on here that feature rapping. They just don't fit with the rest of this album and doesn't make much sense being here. I'll tell you what though, out of these songs, "Luxury Pool" isn't half bad.

These guys do an excellent job creating a homage to electronic and rock bands of the 80s who obviously influenced their direction such as The Cars, Depeche Mode, The Fixx and so on.

This album is awesome. It's as simple as that. I am completely blown away by it and am a giant fan of this act. I sincerely hope this is not the only album these guys will collaborate on because I just want more more more right now! Don't stop, please, give us more!

Acts as diverse as Pacific! to The Killers have proven that adding an eighties edge to modern pop/rock arrangments can be highly successful fusions. It is a refreshingly original trend, despite that implicit fact that the bands are merely taking their influences to a literal extreme.

Neon Neon, for instance, utilized many instruments manufactured in the eighties to create the sound on their debut effort "Stainless Style". The record is a unique concept album conceived around the high-profile playboy lifestyle of John DeLorean.

The eighties tribute theme is noticably prevalent on the album's strongest tracks: "I Lust U", "Dream Cars", "Belfast", and "I Told Her On Alderaan". These tracks constantly pop up on my playlists over a year after discovering this album!

Unfortunately, the other half of the record is constructed with more pedestrian fare. Tracks like "Trick for Treat", "Luxury Pool", and "Sweat Shop" tread typical modern R&B blueprints with yawn-inducing results.

Still, this is a grand record well worth the purchase...and isn't that a sweet album cover?

First off, I am a huge fan of Gruff Rhys (solo records, stuff w/ SFA, and even his early JAMC-styled band, Ffa Coffi Pawb) and I know nothing about Boom Bip. When I heard about this LP, however, I thought it was brilliant.

The other reviewers have not mentioned that this is a CONCEPT ALBUM ABOUT CARMAKER JOHN DELOREAN. I cannot think of a more ridiculously awesome thing to make a concept album about, especially for dudes like me who: 1. grew up in the 80s 2. love cars 3. used to think the DeLorean was the pinnacle of cool cars during our childhood 4. love Back To The Future and so on.

I will agree with the other reviewers who say that the 3 hip-hop style tracks are totally out of place. Then again, I am not really a big fan of hip-hop. Regardless of that, the other tracks definitely garner this album five stars. The "Alderaan" song is possibly the most authenticly 80s-sounding non-80s song ever written - even more so than that M83 record that came out this year.

GET INTO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could be the soundtrack for a Bret Easton Ellis novel. There are odes to cars, The Cars, Raquel Welch and Michael Douglas. The standout tracks are "I Told Her on Alderaan", "Steel Your Girl", "Dream Cars" and "I Lust You" featuring Cate Le Bon. The album seems to fluctuate between dance-pop (Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals influenced) and hip-hop (Boom Bip influenced), and the rap tracks don't work quite as well, although most of them are at least fun to listen to the first time through. "Sweat Shop" becomes downright annoying after a few listens though. I would hope that the next project from these guys focuses more on the Gruff material, and less on the hip-hop side of things. The cover art seems appropriate as well, and should give you an idea of what to expect.

I think that I first heard about this cd thanks to either amazon.com and/or amazon.co.uk (I wish that I could remember which one for sure but, I sure am glad that I did find out about this cd). This is a very good and diverse selection of sexual and controversial songs. There is something for everyone to like because there are titles such as "I Lust U", "Luxury Pool", "Michael Douglas","Raquel" and "Trick For Treat". There are actually 12 one of a kind songs on here, but I wanted to make sure to showcase a diverse range of songs. My favorite song in this collection was at first "I Lust U", but now it is "Trick For Treat". This is because "Trick For Treat" is an exciting and daring song about a man admitting how a woman has him fantasizing in a big way about her. Then he creates a thrilling illustration of what he is going to do to her. I also love how they start off the song with some strong male vocals singing what sounds like "Society High".Due to the highly graphic nature of these songs it is highly recommended that any adult(s) listen to these songs in the privacy of wherever they live, unless listened to through headphones of course. Regardless this is a very eclectic and one of a kind sensual collection to own.

This album zooms off with a great start. The first song "Neon Theme" is a great instrumental intro. The following three songs are quite catchy and good as well. "Dream Cars" has a simple yet catchy drum beat and reminds me a little bit of the new Keane album. The next song "I Tod Her On Alderaan" has a Gary Numan (get it the guy who did the song "Cars") synth vibe and feel to it. "Raquel" has a repetitive (slash) haunting feel that will "stick" in your head - in a good way.

But the reason why I give this album 3.5 stars, is that the rap / hip-hop songs on the album are pretty wretched and are unneeded. Don't really want to know or care about the reason(s) for doing the rap songs. Also, the 3.5 stars because of Gruff Rhys voice (the singer from Super Furry Animals) who sings the songs that aren't rap/hip-hop. Why is Gruff's voice a negative to the album, well if you aren't a fan of his voice, then you might not enjoy the rest of the album. Now don't get me wrong; I'm not dissing Gruff's voice (in fact I like SFA; especially the song "Rings Around the World") but at times it can get a little annoying. And with the bothersome rap songs followed by a Gruff song for the last half of the album - this is what stalls this album out. In other words good singles and a good beginning for the album but then it swerves off the road for the second half. Please see the two exceptions on the last half of the album below

For the beginning and for these two later songs in the album; you should at least give this album a spin. : "I Lust You" has a super catchy synth beat and some sexy and sultry guest vocals by Cate Le Bon. "Belfast" again has a 80's / Gary Numan feel to it that is worth a listen.

-Unique in it's method of 80's retro
-Rapper appearances shift focus almost like hearing two albums laced together...one more on the retro-indie-pop side and the other more on the modern dance side
-At times the John DeLorean based lyrics can be a little awkward, but it's interesting to see the different ways each vocalist rose to the challenge