Customer Reviews

The Strangest Things

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

It's so nice to hear a band that isn't mining the same old range of influences (Velvet Underground, Clash, Stooges, etc.) as the Strokes, Libertines, Mooney Suzuki and the whole "new rock revival" crowd.

Instead, Longwave has a really interesting mix of influences, ranging from 80s new wave to Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine-type shoegaze rock. Many of the songs feature some really interesting guitar noise and the singer has a lush, charismatic voice. It's also a refreshing change of pace to hear a singer who sounds optimistic and upbeat, instead of the same old angst ridden drugged out, Lou Reed wannabes infecting the airwaves today.

I don't think Longwave sounds much like Interpol, but fans of that band would probably dig "Strangest Things." Even better, if you dig the Strafford 4 or are a fan of My Bloody Valentine looking for an alternative to "Loveless," you could do a lot worse than "Strangest Things."

If you didn't know that Longwave was from New York City, you'd swear they were the next big thing out of the UK. They have drawn comparisons to Brit heavyweights such as Joy Division and the Psychedelic Furs. They have also been compared to their hometown mates, the Strokes, who have taken Longwave on tour twice. But listen to the album's first single and it's clear that the only similarities to the Strokes are their penchant for straightforward songs and perhaps their fashion sense. "Everywhere You Turn" is three-and-a-half minutes of well-crafted melodic rock featuring singer/guitarist Steve Schiltz's deadpan vocals and a wash of guitars that would make The Edge proud. Other notables such as "Wake Me When It's Over," "I Know It's Coming Someday" and the epic "Tidal Wave" highlight the band's beautifully textured sound and melancholy lyrics, all caught on tape by producer Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev). Even when the atmospheric guitars risk wandering off, Longwave manage to pull back and stay true to the song at hand. Call it shoegazer rock if you must, but The Strangest Things is simply a self-assured major label debut album from a band that sparkles with promise.

In the early 90's, dreampop had a short, glorious tenure in the alt-rock underground. Taking their cue from the Jesus and Mary Chain, bands like Ride, Kitchens of Distinction and, especially, My Bloody Valentine, grafted gorgeous swaths of melodic feedback to basic pop structures. That sound hasn't been heard in a while, but it's influence can be felt a decade later. On Longwave's excellent The Strangest Things, singer/guitarist Steve Schiltz and guitarist Shannon Ferguson start with the verities of goth - a haunting bassline, guitars circling in arpeggios - before loosening torrents of postpunk noise. It's a refreshing combination. In many ways, Longwave are like early Catherine Wheel fronted by Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong - elegant noise yoked to adenoidal plea. They're the perfect counterpoint to Interpol's millennial faux misery.

I don't know why so many reviewers feel compelled to be "anti" radio songs. I know it's "cool" to say things like "Oh, hah, that's not even their best song...", but let's not deny the facts. Yes, "Everywhere You Turn" is their best song. It's the best song on one of the best albums of the year. It has the memorable chiming guitars that put U2 on the map, and it has outstanding vocals that sing a tune that will be stuck in your head for days to come. But the entire album is brilliant. "I Know It's Coming Someday" is another gorgeously crafted song, and one listen to "Tidal Wave" will too have you singing for days. Almost every song on the album is memorable in its own unique way. A couple of times a year, some random bands quietly produce an album that has strength in each track, that has put heart and soul into every song, and leaves you nothing to "skip" through. Longwave is one of those bands, this is one of those albums. Enjoy it.

A lot of major rock publications have been crucifying these fellas because they hail from the same city and are chummy with the Strokes. This makes about as much sense as disliking the Beatles because of their association with Badfinger. They have nothing in common(except NYC) as those lads. This album is a wonderful collection of rock that once upon a time was called alternative. Greats sounds not unlike the Pixies, Smiths, JAMC, the church, Echo, et al...This record reminds me of why I used to rush home from school to listen to the local college station to hear great unknown bands that have made up my record collection. Great pop songs with a lot of subconscience style. If you long for the days of when the above mentioned bands where still in existence, or if you missed out on that scene, then start here rather than so many of the newer bands that name check those artists for credibility. This is the real stuff, and now I long for them to return to town, rather than for their influences to do so...

dont know how I wound up with this- but I think its one of the great cds a real thrill almost out of control but dosent descend into grunge nosie
controlled dissodent choas- yet catchy and tunefull.- I liken it to a big monsoon storm- or maybe a strong thunder storm. I love it. quite a breath of fresh air.

I actually heard these guys on internet radio. i wrote the name down and went out bought the record. havent regreted once. i was so happy to hear this band. this is a consistent record and rather than use vague descriptions i'll just say its as if Interpol had a good singer. i see interpo all over the place and i even saw them live. they were good but i don't get all the hype. then i heard this band and discovered the great injustice being done. oh my gosh! this band is great and unlike the interpol guy, he can actually sing. interpol fans, or fans of maybe early radiohead and the cure... this might be a band for you. i hope the next record replaces interpol on the airwaves.