You're a Woman, I'm a Machine

Death from Above 1979

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 2004)
• Original Release Date: October 26, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vice Records
• ASIN: B0003JAHBA
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,571 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This duo is engrained in the lexicon of Simon and Garfunkel, The Chemical Brothers, The Carpenters, and Sonny And Cher. It's hard to believe the only instruments on this album, aside from the odd flute sample or moog oscillation, are the bass and drums. "This is your album--whether you're a metalhead, suburban stoner, glue-sniffing gutter punk, electroclash fashionista, new wave spazz, hoodie skate-rat, indie rock academic, geriatric Deep Purple fan, or whether you've just been jonesin' for an intelligent, uncompromising but accessible rock record to rival Queens Of The Stone Age's 'Songs For The Deaf' or the first Foo Fighters album"--The Eye.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I don't need this album, but I want it, March 14, 2007

By	Wheelchair Assassin (The Great Concavity) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Here's a quick look at You're a Woman, I'm a Machine by the numbers:

Power ballads: None

Whining: None

Lyrics about feelings: None

Acoustic guitars: None

Guitars, period: None

Socially redeeming value: none

Pretentiousness: None

Percentage of this album's running time that makes me bang my head, tap my foot, or even make me attempt something bearing a passing resemblance to dancing: 100

With a breakdown like that, it's easy to see why Death From Above 1979 were able to lend a brief injection of vitality to the too-often dull and self-important world of rock. There may not be any guitars on this album, but the atomic riffs and screeching feedback of Jesse F. Keeler's bass and the relentlessly frenetic drum patterns of Sebastian Granger intertwine to create some of the most infectious, memorable, and downright enjoyable music released so far this decade, regardless of genre. Sure, every song sounds basically the same, with some faster and thrashier and some slower and more pummeling, but at 11 tracks covering about thiry minutes You're a Woman, I'm a Machine isn't around long enough to wear out its welcome. From opening to closing, Death From Above's debut full-length (and apparently their valedictory as well) is populated exclusively with sweaty, swaggering, libidinous tunes, topped by suggestive lyrics delivered in styles ranging from falsetto crooning to fearsome, confrontational shouts.

One could, if one were so inclined, go ahead and analyze the individual songs on this album, but that would miss the point. This is not an album to be analyzed; it's an album to be felt, enjoyed, experienced, and remembered; an album whose songs will bounce around in your head for days after hearing it and bring a grin to your face; an album that even had my wife banging her head upon hearing it. It's a reminder to the sorry likes of Nickelback and Staind that rock music can, even should, be fun, not an excuse for mopey whining about feelings and relationships. And even beyond all that, it's just a good time, something that's too rarely had for everybody. You could do a lot worse than to put away your complaint rock and give this album a spin.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drum & Bass, October 27, 2004

By	Daniel Cummings - See all my reviews

In the great spectrum of music that encompasses all the different varieties of bands out there, it is becoming more & more difficult to come up with original ideas as time goes on. The consistent output of bands with gimmicks, shticks, and fashion statements to force on us, have, in a way, soured our chances of finding a genuine band that's sincere about what they do anymore.

As this was all happening, two Torontonians, after facing jail time and unemployment, decided to do what they love doing, and make a living out of it. They formed the band Death From Above; Jesse Keeler the bassist, and Sebastien Grainger the drummer and lead vocals.

The premise of a two-piece band at this point, was tired and overused. Bands like the White Stripes & the Black Keys are prime examples of some of the two-piece bands flooding the airwaves as of late. But before pigeonholing this Canadian twosome into any category of that sort, keep in mind that this may be the most original couplet out of them all.

The two bandmembers make loud music, and I'm using the term lightly. What most heavy rock bands tend to do, is to sacrifice melody for brutal punishing noise, but this isn't the case with this band. Instead, we end up with a perfect marriage between the two, backed by a dance beat and a wailing vocalist.

The band's previous outings on their Heads Up! and Romantic Rights EPs were full-blown, distorted, rock-outs with complete disregard for the listener's fragile eardrums (not to say that they were bad, in fact they were highly enjoyable records). But on this record, in spots, they've softened up. Tracks like Black History Month, and Sexy Results groove along with fervour, taking merely a slight breather before exploding once again. Also on the disc, tracks like Pull Out, and Cold War, resemble the aggressive side of the band that we've come to know and love. The single Romantic Rights (and Blood On Our Hands coming soon) are catchy enough to top the mainstream charts. It's only a matter of time before exposure to this band becomes more universal.

The slight change of direction was a bit of a risk, but they pulled it off nicely, and I'm anxious to see what direction they go and take next. For now though, they've plenty enough of material spanning the three records to keep me satisfied. This, being there best outing yet, is a thoroughly enjoyable listen.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad song on the album, January 3, 2005

By	Peter J. Paschal (Lewisville, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was turned on to this group from reading a review in Playboy of all places. They said it was one of the best albums of 2004. So I decided to spend the money and see what they where talking about.

Well, it was not at all hype. After listening to the album I was very surprised. The first time I listened to it, I found my self tapping my toe to every song. It is very much garage rock music with an edgy feel. The songs are fast tempo and have great rifts throughout the album. You can tell these guys put some thought into there music and a lot of energy. If I had to compare Death From Above 1979 to another band, I would compare it to early Janes Addiction. But, truely they have their own thing going on.

They are not a spin-off of the Hive's or Jet or the Strokes or White Stripes. Death From Above have their own sound and no one in the music biz is playing anything likes these guys are. I won't say DFA 1979 are inovators but they have a very fresh and refreshing rock sound. If your tired of the rock they play on the radio, try this one on for size. I would highly recommend this album. Go out and buy it, you won't be disappointed.