Customer Reviews

Submarine

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

 

 

Not sure what album the prior reviewer (J.L.) was listening to, but it doesn't seem to be the same "Submarine" that I've been playing virtually non-stop since downloading it. This is a brilliant post-punk album, far more consistent than their great but uneven debut. With only three exceptions - "Jesus Saves", "Baby Blue" and "Halfway Home" - I rate every song on "Submarine" as five stars. Sure, Scanners employs keyboards throughout, but they don't allow the synths to dominate the proceedings the way Editors did on their last record. This is still a guitar-fueled rock album. And sure, most of the tracks originate from a darkness typical of post-punk ("Strangelovehate" being a prime, and stellar, example), but they're not all doom and gloom. Far from it. "Sick Love", for example, employs a surf guitar lick and a girl group-esque backing vocal; "We Never Close Our Eyes" will get your feet moving; and "Sleepwalking Life" - the best song on the album - has a chorus that feels exactly like sunlight breaking through clouds on a crisp autumn day. (Don't say I didn't warn you when it takes your breath away.) Dynamic, evocative and consistently exciting, this album is a gem that isn't getting the accolades it deserves. If you like The Bunnymen, The Banshees, Cure, Editors and similar bands, then don't pass this one up! Four-and-a-half stars (bumped up to five because it deserves a higher average rating than the other reviewer gave it).

Scanners began as a two piece band with Sarah Daly and Matthew Mole trading guitar and vocal work backed by a drum machine. With the addition of Amina Bates on keyboards and Tom Hutt on drums, Scanners have managed to retain a bit of that early drum machine vibe while filling out their sound to create radio-ready hits. With their sophomore album, Scanners start things off with a bang. "Jesus Saves" is an incredibly catchy pop track with a beat that forces you to tap your foot if not just get up and dance. What makes Scanners unique is that these dance pop tracks are not necessarily uplifting lyrically. "It's a shame, we all have a sell-by date," is the first line of a chorus that reminds us of our inevitable death while the music suggests we party while we're here.

The music gets a bit darker with the first single from the album, "Salvation." With Daly's cry of "I'll take you to my grave" ringing out over a crowd droning "woah" in a style similar to Gregorian chant, the upbeat drums somehow never seem out of place. In fact, Tom Hutt's drumming is really the only thing saving Scanners from spiraling down into a pit of despair. Even "Sick Love," a track reminiscent of The Go-Go's "We Got the Beat," holds a slightly depressing undertone.

Synthesizer becomes a much more important instrument on the second half of the album which earns heavy comparisons to Editors, especially on "Strangelovehate." Instead of a lead instrument, however, it often remains somewhat hidden in the mix which fills out the sound, but also takes focus away from any kind of a melody other than what is heard in the vocals.

It often feels like Scanners is struggling with their identity as a band. With a powerful singer in Sarah Daly, Scanners has developed a reputation as being fantastic to see live, but that energy does not seem to be captured on their studio releases. The beats are exciting, but the music lacks feeling. The vocals often seem intentionally placed instead of falling perfectly into the mix like more successful acts in the genre have achieved. That being said, Submarine still has some great singles and is worth a listen for anyone who enjoys the similar artists I've listed.

Similar Artists: The Sounds, Shiny Toy Guns, Editors, Bloc Party

Track Suggestion: Jesus Saves