Sweet Heart Dealer [Vinyl]

Scarling | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (February 17, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sympathy 4 the R.I.
• ASIN: B000OYAV2O
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #810,865 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Last Day I Was Happy

2. Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole

3. Crispin Glover

4. Baby Dracula

5. Alexander the Burn Victim

6. Black Horse Riding Star

7. Can't (Halloween Valentine)

Editorial Reviews

Alternative Press Jason Pettigrew 2003

"Scarling. sounds like being French kissed by the most beautiful beings in the world, really alluring yet massive stuff."

"You're left with feeling you've been kicked in the gut by an angel."

"Scarling. make dark, desperate, chaotic, gorgeous pop music, the sound of the end of the world…. And I love it."

Product Description

One look at Scarling might suggest that they're a new batch of goth-inclined neo-hipsters ready to sell themselves to America's disaffected youth in the wake of the breakthrough of Evanescence. However, while a spin of their debut full-length, Sweet Heart Dealer, confirms that legions of mopey kids should go for this big-time, it's also clear that this band has an awful lot more going for them than the surfaces might suggest. While dominated by the massive guitar sounds of Christian Hejnal and Rickey Lime, Scarling's songs display a canny pop sensibility that bobs just beneath their aural surface, and former Jack Off Jill vocalist Jessicka's voice seems to have gained some welcome depth and texture in the context of her new band. Hejnal and Jessicka have cited Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine as key influences on Scarling's approach, and it shows -- rather than going for standard-issue Marshall-stack crunch, Hejnal and Lime utilize feedback, drones, and floating masses of overtones to give these seven songs an attack that could be described as a loving pummel that embraces as it bruises. And you can actually sing along with "Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole" without hurting yourself, which is no small feat. Sweet Heart Dealer is a remarkably accomplished debut from a band with very real potential. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars scarling., February 17, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Sweet Heart Dealer (Audio CD)

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!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scar. stars, March 7, 2004

By 

Vixenage (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sweet Heart Dealer (Audio CD)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ze scarling., March 8, 2004

By 

Kanyl (HBG , Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sweet Heart Dealer (Audio CD)

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 .