The Strangest Things [Import]

Longwave | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 28, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: RCA Records Label
• ASIN: B00008O345
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,104 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

CD > POPULAR MUSIC > ROCK

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where's the love?, July 3, 2004

By 

Wheelchair Assassin (The Great Concavity) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Strangest Things (Audio CD)

On first listen, it would be pretty easy to write off Longwave as "just another indie band" or some similarly dismissive term. However, some time and patience will reveal a skilled and imaginative band that does an excellent job of taking the sounds of the past and putting their own stamp on them. These guys have certainly done their homework: led by the versatile and often explosive guitar work of Steve Schiltz (who doubles on vocals) and Shannon Ferguson, "The Strangest Things" displays elements of English post-punk, the arty cool of Sonic Youth, and even a bit of the shoegazer fuzz of My Bloody Valentine. The first two songs, "Wake Me When It's Over" and "Everywhere You Turn" charge ahead with the combination of gravity and grace that characterizes some of Sonic Youth's more straightforward work. Starting slow and quiet and then steadily gaining momentum and becoming more expansive, the genuinely pretty "Meet Me at the Bottom" could be an early Radiohead song without the British accent. The sweeping, shimmering instrumental closer "Day Sleeper," with its textured guitar interplay and occasional bursts of noise, even brings to mind Mogwai. And Longwave aren't above hitting you with a simple, catchy pop hook, as evidenced by the surprisingly endearing "Pool Song." Schiltz is an excellent vocalist, with a mature croon that's augmented by some sweet falsetto on "The Ghosts Around You" and "Exit." The rhythm section of Dave Marchese and Mike James also helps to elevate this band above the plain, bringing a rhythmic heft not often seen in their genre. Just witness their furious pounding in "All Sewn Up," or Mike's intricate beats on the title track and "Day Sleeper." If not for some lousy lyrics, and the brief dead spot created by the too-short "Can't Feel a Thing" and the too-wimpy "Tidal Wave," this album could be a certifiable classic. Instead, it's just an underappreciated recording that ranks among the top releases of last year.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Forget The Strokes, August 25, 2003

By 

nowhereman (America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Strangest Things (Audio CD)

I saw this in the store, looked at the dummy sticker and saw that Dave Friedmann was part of the production, and I took a chance and bought it. I'm glad.

Like the Strokes, Longwave are clearly influenced by 70s bands like Television. The comparisons with the Strokes end with influences though. There is a beauty in listening to an unhyped band that simply craft good rocks songs about heartbreak, disillusioment, and depair. Longwave is such a band. The lead singer's voice saves Longwave from sounding like another pseudo outfit. His voice is a little rough but honest; i.e. what a rock and roll vocalist should be. The guitar hooks are infectious, more British than American in style at times.

This album is one of the most underrated of the year, highly recommended to anyone who likes this general genre of music.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars frustrating, October 31, 2003

By 

Bryan Wilson (11211) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Strangest Things (Audio CD)

if all goes well, "the strangest things" will be a near afterthought in longwave's catalog. be warned, that is not as damaging a knock as it may seem, because if any band has captured the beauty and uncertainty of post-punk and melded it with the simplicity of pop music, it is longwave. their songs are fleshed-out, glorious, nervous, and inspiring at the same time. nearly every track on their latest offering demands repeated listens, at least to fully appreciate the roaring dual-guitar attack that dominates the record. "everywhere you turn" hearkens to the days of u2, echo and the bunnymen, and yes, the band they might most closely resemble, ride. swish, swirl, dizzyness, lots of guitars, more dizzyness, all meant to be played loud. but man it's great, although admittedly derivative. by now you sense i'm buttering this up only to utterly disappoint, which is true, but please don't write this band off just because, well, their lyrics are bad. real bad. i hate to say it, because i want to love them, as much for the nostalgia as for the delivery, but as great as steve schlitz's voice is, as ably as he fits it to the music, the man is spouting cliches and empty phrases, ironically, everywhere you turn. it's fairly obvious that many of these songs deal with alienation and a sense of hopelessness, at least from the titles ("i know it's coming someday," "meet me at the bottom," "can't feel a thing," etc.) this isn't a bad thing, but it all comes out so wrong when they're backed by "when there's no one left, you'll see me there," or "they're always looking for something." and that's really it, it's always about someone, something, somewhere, someday, never delving into any specifics, something (yes, something) that we can hook on to and relate to on a deeper, more personal level. isn't that what music is for? and so, as great as these songs sound, it's hard if not impossible to fully buy into all of it. if you can ignore the words and simply seep into the music itself, then yes, "the strangest things" is a rewarding and enthralling listen. do yourself a favor, forget the lyrics to "tidal wave" and turn it up to 11. it's teenage bliss, if only for a few minutes. otherwise, this post-punk revival will continue until someone (yes, someone) delivers the next classic we need.