Customer Reviews

Sweet Heart Dealer

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Feedback noises call you in like the scream of a mechanical little girl lost in a strange Wonderland. The distorted bass is the white rabbit that invites you in further, as you begin to hear the red queen speak to those who choose to go wherever she may lead you. The quiet atmosphere vanishes quickly into an explosion of noise and words that would wilt any painted-red rose.

The wait was certainly worth it, as the music on the album is literally flawless in every way.

The album balances between heavy louder songs and softer mellow songs - while all still keeping that "edge" that makes them all flow into each other perfectly. The music is heavy, noisy, and loud - totally complimenting Jessicka's voice. All the instruments blend together to make a thick wall of sound that is sure to entrance and inspire many.

Individual Song Comments:
The Last Day I Was Happy (3:49) - I think this is a great album opener. The chorus plays on 2 certain words that rhyme, Jessicka's scream after the first chorus gives goosebumps.

Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole (3:26) - I think this track has alot less "texture" than the rest of the album, extremely catchy.

Crispin Glover (3:18 ) - My personal favorite on the album. I found myself singing the catchy chorus of the song as I was out walking my dog. Described by a certain succexy as "cure-esque"... I agree.

Baby Dracula (3:54) - I think would sound great live (). Once again I love the textured guitars.

Alexander the Burn Victim (6:00) - I think this is the saddest song on the album lyric-wise. ("And when he dreams I know he is ok / Cause when he dreams, he's someone new... It's all for love" ) It's starting to really grow on me. One of my favorites.

Black Horse Riding Star (5:31) - The heaviest track on the album. I really love the guitar.

Can't (7:21) - The intro of this song is very My Bloody Valentine, slow and fragile throughout, but picks up pace towards the end - Finishing the albums journey off.

Total night and day from Jack off Jill (musically NOTHING alike). I'd choose scarling. if I had to pick though - Better, and more interesting musicians!

Other Notes: Sitting here with the album playing in my laptop, the cd slowly heats up and the disk art gives off a mixture odor of both cinnimon and vanilla. How odd!

So here it is, the long-awaited debut offering from Scarling., the band who rose from the ashes of the stupidly-underrated Jack off Jill. When I found out the first Scarling. album would consist of seven tracks, I did debate with myself whether that was enough, but having heard the songs on offer here, I can definitely say that there's enough on `Sweet Heart Dealer' to satisfy the desire for Scar.music for now, while still leaving us hungry for the honey-and-razorblades sound in a new form.

Opening with a burst of static, the fuzzy bass &distorted vocals give way to a chorus that will stick in your head like chewing gum for weeks to come. This is `The Last Day I Was Happy', &it's wonderous. Next up is the single, "Band Aid Covers the Bullethole"; cue sweet, crackling guitars &the little-girl-found vocals of Jessicka. Altogether now, "say hello to my little friend..."
`Crispin Glover' sounds like the kind of dreamy, romantic-sounding gem The Smashing Pumpkins might have written before their untimely demise, all crisp guitars &otherwordly sounds . Hypnotic bass &a refrain of "&when he sleeps I hope he's OK" make `Alexander the Burn Victim' a lullabye to give you the sweetest nightmares you'll ever have, &you'll enjoy every minute.
`Baby Dracula', which sounds to me like an ode to a parasitic attention-whore (but I could be wrong), has yet another chorus you won't be able to get out of your head. Probably the most `traditional' &less dense-sounding song on the album, it's still as fantastic as the rest.
`Black Horse Riding Star', my favourite of the crop of half-length MP3s debuted on the Scarling. site last year, begins with the kind of drums that sound like the world crashing down around you. Those Armaggedon drums &squealing quitars give way to a gentle acoustic mid-section with the kind of spoken word refrain that Jessicka has made her own, before crashing back into life again.
Jessicka still has her trademark, distinctive sweet-and-sour singing/screaming style, but it's amazing to hear just how well this girl can belt out a song. Of course, we always knew she could sing, but her voice has progressed far beyond screaming &sweet singing; the depth &diversity of her vocals on this album is breathtaking. In fact, pretty much everything on this album is breathtaking; at times raw &dense with layers of noise &static, it's also full of music so beautiful &magical it almost brings tears to my eyes. Especially on the closing `Can't (Halloween Valentine)', a seven & a half minute-long song that sounds like it could have come from another world entirely.
However, don't think that this is an album you can listen to once &decide whether you love or hate it; it's the kind of album that requires repeated listens, so that the layers of sounds unfurl themselves completely. One listen isn't enough to fully appreciate this music; like Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy or Queen Adreena (only the latter can be considered a musical comparison too since neither NIN nor Skinny Puppy sound like Scarling.), it's music that you have to listen to over &over again before you `get' most of it. But, like those bands, it's worth it as the full beauty of the songs is revealed.
It's unfair to compare Scarling. to Jack off Jill; Jessicka's moved on since then &so should you, but since it's inevitable that JoJ fans are going to wonder just how this new band compares to the old guard, I'll tell you; if Jack off Jill was a dress rehearsal; this is the opening night.
Long may these Scar. stars shine brightly; they certainly should have a glittering future ahead of them.

All the waiting has paid off ! This debut cd from Scarling is the most beautiful and extraordinary music I've ever heard ...and that is not enough to describe how I feel about it . everytime you listen to it ; your gonna hear new things you've never noticed the first time you listened to it . A beautiful piece of work when it comes both to vocals , drums , guitars and bass . The lyrics can make anybodys heart melt .

The last day I was happy - Oh my , this is sucha great opening track and one of my fav songs . I can picture them play this song live and make it sound just as great as it sounds on the cd . Picture art-rock mixed with lots of noise and haunting vocals and you are halfway there .

Band aid covers the bullet hole - Well , everyone has said things about this track . I dont know what more I could add . Except that I understand why they released this track as their first single . very catchy .

Crispin Glover - Really lovely track with lots of swirling guitars , smooth vocals and you get a feeling of both tragedy and beauty while listening to it .

Alexander the burn victim - Another fav song of mine . It's one of the most beautiful songs ever written , very calm and soothing. This is how it feels to be heartbroken and drowning in sadness but gives you a stray of light during the whole song. The lyrics are so extremly vulnerable and makes me almost want to cry .

Baby Dracula - This song will probably be stuck in my head for weeks . This song makes you want to play it over and over again and sing along because it's really really catchy .

Black horse riding star - Ahh another one of my favs . I wanted to hear the whole song the first time I heard the clip posted on the website . It's the album's heaviest track and from my interpretation, heroin addiction gone very wrong . When the song starts you can feel how it creeps up along your spine and then the drums crash in and makes you feel both dizzy and angry . Kinda how it feels to be in a situation that you cant handle on your own .

Can't (halloween valentine) - a haunting song that makes me think of teardrop explodes/my bloody valentine . Jessickas lyrics and vocals makes me think about how it feels when your feeling really down and lost all your faith in yourself. Another beautiful track .

This album gives you the perfect mix of art/noise/dreamy pop/ -rock and will change lives . Im 100 % sure . This is the only cd you need . Im impressed , very impressed .

I want to say that the album exceeded my expectations, but I don't know what exactly I was expecting. The first track, "The Last Day I was Happy," completely blew me away as I didn't anticipate Scarling to have such a heavy sound. I think by starting the album out with a heavier song and ending it with a softer, melodic tune, "Can't (Halloween Valentine)," Scarling excellently displayed their versatility.

The Last Day I Was Happy Wow. This song is amazing. As I said, it was much heavier than I had expected, but it is certainly executed well. It's definitely one of my favorites on the album.

Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole What is there to say about this song that hasn't been said? It was the first single, so most of you (if not all of you) have heard it. It has been discussed to death (most likely), so I have no new insight to offer. However, I will say that it is a melodic, catchy song, so it surely was an excellent choice for a single.

Crispin Glover How could one not love a song called Crispin Glover? This song had me from the title alone, but the song itself is nothing less than incredible. I love the way Jessicka's voice blends with the music. It's definitely the song that brings tears to my eyes.

Alexander the Burn Victim You know the feeling right after your heart's been broken? If not, listen to this song, and you will. I really don't know how to accurately describe this song. It makes me feel like I'm swimming.

Baby Dracula As different as Scarling are from Jack Off Jill, this song reminds me of Clear Hearts Grey Flowers a TINY bit. I think it's the tone in Jess' voice that makes me feel this way, but I can only hear the similarity during the verses. Regardless, I think it's amazing, and as Iain said, definite single potential!

Black Horse Riding Scar From the moment I heard the clip of this song, I wanted to hear more. I could tell it was going to be a favorite even then, and I was right. It's definitely the heaviest song on the album, but it brilliantly blends a calm breakdown within.

Can't (Halloween Valentine) I am really surprised that this song is my least favorite because I really loved the clip I heard all those many months ago. I still love the song, but it doesn't strike me the same way the others do. I think it's amazing how Scarling flawlessly mesh a softer song like this with the heavier, rougher previous tracks.

Wow. Scarling.'s new cd is quite the breath taker. Track after track, it still keeps me amused and wanting more. Definetely worth the wait. Jessicka's voice continues to be massive and aluring. Christian's guitar noises on this album still persists to amaze me, and the rest of the band was awsome.
Personal favorites of mine on were
Black Horse Riding Star- heavy, & amazing guitar sounds,
Can't- one word, beautiful
The Last Day I Was Happy- loved the lyrics & the music

5 stars without a doubt- get this cd A.S.A.P.

Much of Scarling's success can be clearly attributed to their ringleader, Jessicka, who as you should know by now, was frontwoman of the old, Marilyn Manson-produced band Jack Off Jill. If you think Scarling. is going to sound like them at all, you couldnt be more wrong. Although not as heavy, loud, or rocking as the old Florida shock rock group youre thinking of, it brings something new to the plate. The vocals are completely different, so you wouldnt know you were even listening to the raven haired rocker unless you had been told. A lot easier to sing to than JOJ CDs, but not nearly as agressive or strong. And I was dissapointed with the lack of energy that was apparent on this album, and the fact that it just wont get you going like any old JOJ album will, i guess its not fair for me to try and compare it to something else.
The lyrics are pretty good, especially on the tracks Crispin Glover, where jessicka states 'yeah, theyre laughing at you, theyre not laughing with you' or in H/C where youre pointed out admist the heavy guitar walls, that 'When your life turns fashion, here comes love/ watch the people cash in, here comes love.' The oddest thing about this album is how it combines the light and the dark. Its like dark punk and light goth, which makes for a strange, strange sound that is undeniably fresh and new. The guitar work is some of the most inventive heard today, and i really like the progressions and the way the sound seems to spiral out of control. Although the album has its high points, found in tracks like 'Band-Aid covers the bullet hole' 'Alexender the Burn Victim' 'H/C' or 'Crispin Glover' it still finds itself coming into problems such as songs that you just plain dont care about, like 'The last day i was happy' or 'Baby Dracula' or the fact that Scarling. sounds lightyears more refined and 'studio' than JOJ fands will expeect, not to mention you cannot be distracted from the fact that youve just spent $14 on a 30 minute CD. The more i think about Scarling. , the less i know where i stand on them. Funny how theyre like that.

This is one serious album. It is amazing in ways that cannot be decribed, you would have to hear it yourself to understand how beautiful it is.

The Last Day I Was Happy- A great song, crunching guitars, but I think its not that good. The words are awesome, but I don't think it has the pull like some other songs have on the album. My favourite part of this entire song is when about half way through she screams.
8/10

Band Aid Covers The Bullet Hole - An amazing song (a great single), with lush sounds and scratches, a beautiful melody, and words that really make you think. One of the better songs on the album.
9/10

Crispin Glover- The best song on the album by far. The words stay in your mind and make you think (Yea theyre laughing at us/theyre not laughing with us/And God damn the jokes on me). The song is sad, because to me it sends a message. I lvoe this song because it has such a push to it, with the guitars and Jessika's lovely singing. This is a song you have to understand to like it. I absolutely love this song.
10/10

Alexander the Burn Victim- A great song, another of my favourite songs on the album. I especially like how the beginning builds up to the first verse. Also, when Jessika says o-oh, it almost sounds like shes pleading, or crying. The chorus is also beautiful. A great song
10/10

Baby Dracula- A great song, its not really sad, but the lyrics kind of point to that. The song is also pushing foreward, and I like that. I like when Jessika says "low let go" and then everything becomes silent, then everything comes back in. The chorus is really catchy. Good song

9.5/10

Black Horse Riding Star- Another good song. I love when she sings "Im so high and you can't feel it". I also love when she screams. A very deep song, but near the middle it kinda loses its tempo, then goes back to the original tempo. A good song
9/10

Can't - The worst song on the album. Its slow, boring, and the music is very VERY repetitive. The words are so beautiful and I can easily relate to them, so I give it a
7/10

This album was so beautiful and so creative, that words can barely describe. I received the cd yesterday and since then, I haven't been able to stop listening. It's a brilliant album. I was always such a big fan of Jack Off Jill, and I can see that Jessicka has very much matured and evolved, and is at her absolute best. This cd makes me wonder who Jack Off Jill was. It's truly a brilliant album. Right now my favorites are The Last Day I was Happy and Alexander The Burn Victim. All songs are wonderful, but those two are the ones I can't get out of my head. This album was definately worth the wait and definately worth the money.

After the long wait for Sweet Heart Dealer, it definately was worth the wait. Although the album isn't long, it's the quality that counts, not the quantity. The cd has been playing on repeat in my cd player, and it definately isn't a cd you get sick of quickly. Jessicka has matured through her time in Jack Off Jill, and this album definately reflects it. The vocals may be low, but it gives it a dreamy effect, and it's definately a cd that can be listened to over and over again numerous times. "The Last Day I Was Happy" is definately a lovely opening, with sweet vocals and a few screaming here and there. It's worth every penny, this cd.

This album is simply breathtaking.
Sweet Heart Dealer made me fall in love with music again.