Customer Reviews

There Be Squabbles Ahead (Dig)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first saw Stolen Babies about 3 years ago in '03 at the Galaxy in Santa Ana, CA. They were opening for Rasputina, and i thought they were cool. It was my friend's first show he ever went to as well, and we both actually started laughing when Dominique (the vocalist) started 'screaming'. I thought she was joking, but no, that's just the way she screams, probably not to tear her vocal chords because if she did she wouldn't be able to sing so beautifully. But we still dug them, and bought both of their E.P.s they had at the merch table after the show, and i was obsessed w/ their 4 track untitled one, the one w/ Civil Disguise. This, their debut album, is a GIANT leap ahead of that E.P. and i am COMPLETELY blown away! Her screaming got better, and the musicianship and the music is just mind blowing! This is definitely going to get them noticed. It's going to. Just watch. This will hopefully be the start of the ruin of what's on KROQ and all of that BS. Great album, Great music, Great lyrics, you will NOT be disappointed with this purchase!

This is not normally my type of music, but Stolen Babies have won me over with their original, fun sound. Their music is like a mix of goth metal, ska, and circus music. It's almost impossible to describe.

My daughter and I saw them perform a few days ago when we went to see Within Temptation (her favorite band, and going to the show was her 14th birthday present). Stolen Babies was the first act, and although at first we were a little shocked and scared by their sound, we ended up wishing that they'd been able to perform more than the 4 or 5 songs in their set. They are true entertainers.

We met them at the merchandise counter, and when Rani saw my daughter's autograph paper saying "Happy Birthday" written by Jeroen from Within Temptation, they all jumped up to wish her happy birthday, gave her some of their merchandise for free, and took a picture with her. They were very cool, so we checked out their CD when we got home. That's all we've been listening to ever since.

There are still a few screamy songs (Spill, Mind Your Eyes, Tall Tales) that we haven't been able to get used to, but we just might. I'm certain that this talented and unique band will be BIG soon, and that almost makes me sad for the inevitable end of their small-venue shows. If we have the opportunity, we'll go see them again, hopefully when they're more of a headliner and not just an opening act.

Imagine early Oingo Boingo channeled through Nine Inch Nails, fronted by an accordion-playing harlequin (Dominique Pemquin, remember that name) who croons like Edith Piaf when she's not bleating like a goat or screaming like a banshee (that is NOT a criticism)... as a point of reference, that would start to describe this dark little band on their most impressive premiere effort. What with the Gothic Circus getup apparent in their live shows, they almost come off as a novelty act, but the songs and arrangements are solid and smack of greatness. From the punchy punkiness of "Tablescrap", through the epic drudge of "Push Button", the polyrhythmic sophistication of "Year of Judges", the campy cabaret of "Swint? Or Slude?" and even a sort of reflective ballad, "Lifeless", Stolen Babies knows their way around the musical palette without losing a distinctive unified sound in the course of these 13 tracks.

"Squabbles" is one of my favorite discoveries of the 21st Century, a monster debut, and I look forward to more from these folks, hoping they don't get trivialized as a mere novelty act, as there is some truly fine, enduring music here, worthy of exceptional exposure.

I picked up this album when I was going to see Lacuna Coil and The Gathering. Stolen Babies was the opening act. Unfortunately due to a mix up in show start times I completely missed their set. I kept the album around though and enjoy it a lot. These guys are certainly unique. I am not really even sure how to describe them. Their music is a mix of metal, Eastern European dirge, theatric cabaret, progressive rock and just plain weirdness. One of the band's main instruments is the accordion which combined with the traditional rock instrumentation makes a potent interesting mix. There are a lot of screaming vocals on this album, but when singer Dominique Lenore Persi decides to dump the screaming and just sing she has a beautiful powerful voice. There are parts of this album that I don't really care for, but some of it I think is brilliant. This band is not going to be for everyone, but there is certainly something different about them that separates them from the pack. I would think that fans of bands like Sleepytime Gorilla Museum would enjoy this release.

Clearly one of the bands to watch out for in 2007. Their sound is unique and haunting. They grab you from the first chord and shake you until you are frazzled and weak at the knees. Their live performances are flabbergasting and mind-boggling. Like being on a rollercoaster with a candy apple in one hand and a bottle of Stoli in the other and you are gonna get sticky and soaked! I find the band members themselves to be somewhat aloof, but that just adds to their mystique. Whenever I see this group live, I think of Beetlejuice. They are a great show, making you laugh one minute and cry the next. Dominique wields the voice of a succubus - alluring yet dangerous if you get too close - keep on your toes. This year on the Hottest Chicks in Metal Tour, they were accompanied by 'guest' guitarist, George Earth, of former Switchblade Symphony, who adds an other-worldly presence to their ensemble. Known for their panache to rotate musicians, it is my hopes that they keep George on - he fits quite well with their direction and definitely attracts his own share of attention. Stolen Babies is a must-listen for the open-minded, adventurous spirits.

I often feel that a lot of bands get stuck in a certain formulaic sound while trying to establish a certain style, thus making the songs on their albums nearly indiscernable from each other. Luckily, Stolen Babies is not one of those bands. They are quite the opposite.

All the tracks on the CD are different, but they still have some type of established sound.

Dominique's vocals veer back and forth from impressive screams to a velvety deep clear voice reminiscent of someone you may hear singing cabaret music. The instruments used on this album are fantastically varied as well, a toy piano, the accordian, and upright bass, are used on this cd.

If you want music you will not be bored with and enjoy a type of circus influenced yet gothic sound, then this band is most certainly for you.

I suppose if Julie Christmas and co are going to make stuff out of babies, they've got to source 'em from somewhere. Stolen Babies, fronted by rock chick/accordianado Dominique Lenore Persi, churn out some really fun, toe-tapping quasi-pop, quasi-goth, quasi-circus-music, quasi-industrial something-or-other.

A bit like if Mark Ryden painted a Hello Kitty, it's a take on pop that's all cute, detailed and superbly crafted, with a dark edge of disturbed weirdness lurking just beneath the surface. There are a couple of "demented caberet" sections that seem a bit redundant - hasn't that been done to death already? But the band is crackingly tight, the tunes are direct and funky, and the production is ace.

Considering they started out as a 12-piece high school band this debut CD is an amazing recording. Very polished, excellent musicianship, interesting clever compositions, very original, artistically theatrical. There is an acute intelligence working here. A nice bright star among hundreds of standard rock bands.

A friend of mine told me to listen to this band about 2 years ago. We listened to them and I immediately loved them. Although not all of the songs fit this description, to me many of them sound like Tim Burton and Danny Elfman wanted to put together a rock band with a great female singer. I have not had the opportunity to see them live yet, but if they ever come to Ohio I'm there!

THIS IS A COOL CD BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE IN SOME KIND OF FUN CRAZY WONDERLAND. ITS LIKE A STORY THAT IS VERY FICTION IT IS HARD TO DESCRIBE. I KNOW FROM THE TOP OF MY MIND THAT THE SONGS THAT MOSTLY MAKES YOU FEEL THAT WAY ARE CALLED: FILISTATA,SWINT OR SLUDE?,LIFELESS,PUSH BUTTON,AND THE BUTTON HAS BEEN PUSHED. THE REST OF THIS ALBUM IS A COOL WEIRD SCREAMING TYPE OF ELECTRONIC CRAZY ROCK (EVEN HEAVY METAL).