Customer Reviews

What's The Time, Mr. Wolf?

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So I was at my local record store and I was intrigued by the Billie Holliday and Yeah Yeah Yeahs reference. The album was cheap enough to take a chance on and I'm very glad that I did. There are so many musical styles and theories going on in this album but they all equate to a rockin' good time! Imagine a band that can rock like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs but with a front woman who has a great voice to boot. This is a solid album from beginning to end, not one bad song, and I can't say enough good things about it.

The Noisettes debut is a breath of fresh air in the music market place. Only a trio, yet they can create a wild wall of discordant thrash in one moment and then be as tender and gentle as a baby in the next, with the vocals to match. In this respect, they remind me somewhat of Nirvana. Style wise, they've got the chops to do simple rock n roll like Don't Give Up through to the breathtaking musical gymnastics of Mind the Gap (jazz, blues, heavy rock, punk...). Highly recommended.

A great debut album and I'm looking forward to the next one having a little more consistency in the songwriting (not that there's a filler on this one) and maybe stronger production, especially to make the most of Shingai Shoniwa's truly fantastic voice.

The genre bending Noisettes don't do a whole lot of `bending' on their debut album, `What's The Time, Mr. Wolf?'. In fact, this album is basically an explosive punk rock album. As a whole, it works rather well. I can't hide my disappointment though, especially when you consider their sophomore album, `Wild Young Hearts', which incorporated the right amount of soul, jazz, hip-hop and blues to elevate the punk aspects and create a totally new and inspiring sound. `What's The Time, Mr. Wolf?' is good, but it could have been great. Songs like `I WE' and the infectious opener `Don't Give Up' really focus on what this band can do, and they really shine thanks to Shingai Shoniwa's ferocious vocals. The musicality here can, at times, become repetitious, which also illuminates the fact that they really aren't dabbling in much outside of the punk genre. Songs like `Cannot Even (Break Free)' shows off a softer and more subtle side of the group, with effective results. I would have liked to see a little more diversity here. When they do step outside their selective box they fumble with songs like `Mind the Gap', which just sort of lay stagnant. `Bridge to Canada' is muffled and thus somewhat enticing, but nothing truly memorable. The 60's/70's rock influences are prevalent on some tracks here (especially `Scratch Your Name), but not enough to add any real color to the proceedings. Overall, this is a decent album, but it pales in comparison to their sophomore effort, which is a gigantic step in the right direction.

If you are interested, here is my track ranking:

1) I WE

2) Don't Give Up

3) Cannot Even (Break Free)

4) Never Fall In Love (hidden track)

5) The Count of Monte Christo

6) Sister Rosetta (Capture the Spirit)

7) Nothing to Dread

8) Hierarchy

9) Mind the Gap

10) Bridge to Canada

11) Scratch Your Name

The band Noisettes represents another case where I see an artist in a list of my albums to listen to but I don't remember where I heard of them. At any rate, their full-length debut album What's the Time, Mr. Wolf is pretty solid.

You normally wouldn't expect a black woman to be fronting a rock band, especially since it doesn't always work right (Wicked Wisdom, anyone?). But frontwoman Shingai Shoniwa does a great job leading the rest of the band through these songs. One reviewer described the band as Billie Holiday fronting the White Stripes, and although I don't know if I would necessarily say THAT, I can say that there are plenty of rockin' tunes like "Cannot Even (Break Free)", "Don't Give Up" and "Scratch Your Name". Mellow songs also work, as shown by "Hierarchy" and the hidden track, "Never Fall in Love Again".

I didn't really care for "IWE", and "Nothing to Dread" made me say the opposite (well, the chorus, anyway). But What's the Time Mr. Wolf still proves that Noisettes are one of the most interesting bands out there right now, so check it out.

Anthony Rupert

I saw the 'Scratch Your Name' music video and although I couldn't hear a thing I was completely intrigued. It so happened I had the oppurtunity to see them live and I loved them. I haven't felt so much energy from a band in a long time; the Noisettes are amazing.

The noisettes are a conceptual approach to sound that escapes the confines of pop music. They defy any single paradigm or set of assumptions, instead drawing upon multiple theories, styles, and ideas to gain complementary insights, leading us into a new dimension of sounds and thrills. To put it plainly, which is impossible with this trio - they rock!

Shamefully, I found out about these guys from an advertisment. I heard the song, looked it up, bought the album and LOVE IT. Rangy, powerful music and vocals, good lyrics. These guys will be hard to place into one genre, and the whole album has depth. I'll be checking into the newer album soon.

Just a flat-out riot of an album! It is such a joy to experience a record like this for the first time - every cut is a gem, and you find yourself liking the band more and more the more you listen. The rawk is visceral - you can FEEL that these kids are having a great time doing what they're doing!! I'm not really sure how to classify their sound - I see "garage rock" in other reviews - whatever man, it's all rock n roll to me & these kids bring it!

Unlike their new album, Wild Young Hearts, What's the Time Mr.Wolf has its' roots more firmly planted in blues and soul. It's got great lyrics, great music, and can be listened to again and again and still be enjoyed.

If you're into indie rock, a defnite must buy.

From the first time my ears caught a hold of the unique melodic sound of the Noisettes I was in love. This cd boasts loads of energy with every track and keeps giving. If you are looking for something original fresh and up beat you want the Noisettes and you want What's the Time Mr. Wolf.