11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Sometimes you have to call a spade a spade, September 6, 2005
This review is from: In This Together (Audio CD)
Nearly every keen-eyed observer has sensed that APB headman Stefan Groth has a burning desire to be famous and popular... the writing's been on the wall for a long time. Still he always managed to keep the music creative and enjoyable while updating the sound. Well until now that is. This drastic shift to mainstream rock is not so much a surprise as a disappoint. We saw it coming but it still blows to see it happen.
While artists should grow and challenge themselves by evolving their sound, there is a point at which they cease to be themselves. APB has reached that point on this single. I'd go as far as to call this a disingenuous ripoff of long-term fans. But let's be clear, I get just as annoyed as anyone with people who like to toss out the word "sellout" when it really isn't appropriate. However when a band loses their essence and compromises everything to sell more records... well folks that is a sellout. Hope you make some $$ SG cuz this single sucks eggs.
Be afraid for the full album... be very afraid.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Um..., September 20, 2005
This review is from: In This Together (Audio CD)
I've always been one to defend the directions my favorite artists choose to take their music. My argument is always, "I'm more interested in the artist and the process of making new music" as opposed to picking one album and wishing they could make more in that manner.
When Groth's sound changed every album, I supported it and thought it was a great change. But I'm finally going to have to bite the bullet and admit that, yes, Welcome to Earth was probably his greatest work. And the new single, to the seasoned synth fan, is perhaps the farthest thing from his greatest work.
If I could have had any say in the matter, I would've suggested Groth make another side project, like he did with Fairlight Children, and use it to explore a rock sound, just as FC exlores the vintage synth sound, and not tack on the APB logo with it.
Of course, under the name of APB, the upcoming rock-ish album will reach far more people, and Groth's little dream of being a superstar might have a chance. I don't know. I personally am not hooked by the new sound, but I imagine there is an audience for it. Synth fans who enjoyed the last three Apop albums, however, are likely not going to be pleased.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Sweet hell, what happened!?!?, April 19, 2006
This review is from: In This Together (Audio CD)
OK, I loved APB's early work all the way up to Welcome To Earth, then Harmonizer came out. It was a big dissapointment, but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt (even the best bands put crap out sometimes). Well, it seems that's what APB has become now. With their new CD they took everything that made them creative and unique and flushed it straight to China. I can't even call this industrial or EBM, not even synthpop, it's just generic pop now. Avoid this one at all costs, what a piece!
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