Humanistic

Abandoned Pools

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 25, 2001)
• Original Release Date: September 25, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B00005OAE0
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (155 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #53,255 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Remedy

2. Mercy Kiss

3. Start Over

4. Monster

5. Blood

6. Suburban Muse

7. Sunny Day

8. L.V.B.D.

9. Ruin Your Life

10. Never

11. Seed

12. Fluorescein

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I dont give 5 stars liberally., June 4, 2002

By	Andrew Lueken (Louisville, KY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Abandoned Pools' Humanistic is a supurb rock debut. Fans of Vast, Dave Navarro, Sunna, and A Perfect Circle will find alot to like here. Former Eels bassist Tommy Walter has outdone himself lyricaly, vocally and instrumentally. While comparisons to the Smashing Pumpkins abound, and indeed there is justification for it, vocally Walter couldn't sound any MORE differnt from Billy Corgan. If your desperate for vocal comparisons one might say he sounds like Jon Crosby of Vast and less often, but sometimes like Richard Patricks'(Filter) more melodic moments. Musically, Abandoned Pools are comprable to a less industrial and more straight forward rock version of Nine Inch Nails or Filter(their 2nd record anyway). There is no goth/industrial overtones to be found on Humanistic. Just mild industrial undertones. Despite the use of a keyboard & synthesizers you would be VERY hard pressed to compare Abandoned Pools to Deadsy,Orgy or Godhead. Abandoned Pools are as differnt from(and better than) those bands, as Tool is from Britney Spears...which leads us to lryical content. Tommy Walter's song writting style can be compared to the dynamic of Maynard Keenan or Trent Reznor. A varitable mastermind. This cd would be at home in anyones collection (unless of course, u only listen to rap, country, pop, or blistering death metal). If you like driving hard rock and the occasional mellow song <with several songs landing between the two extremes> this is your disk. Stand out tracks include but are not limited to the current single "The Remedy", the very well done ballad "Start Over", "Monster" a near perfect hard rock track, and the dark and haunting but beautiful "Flourescein".

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moody, Retro, Rocking - this album has everything, August 15, 2004

By	Dan Solera (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

Well, it seems that one-man bands are becoming very popular. You can't turn a corner without seeing bands like 30 Seconds to Mars, Custom, Dashboard Confessional and Pete Yorn, all of whom are pretty much led by one person. So yes, they are becoming very popular.

And it's a good thing too, because they're pretty damn good.

Abandoned Pools is no exception. This band, fronted by Tommy Walter, came off originally (to me) as a mix between Stabbing Westward and Sister Hazel. This was mostly based on their first single, "The Remedy", a nice blend of above-par pop rock and certain harder, moodier elements. But then as I dug deeper into the band, I realized that there are many layers to their sound, many of which can be overlooked in "The Remedy". One realizes this as (s)he passes through the opening track into songs like "Start Over" and "Suburbian Muse". Both of these songs have a serene sound, one that projects a certain pleasantry within the listener, but at the same time reminding him that all is not well. This is a sound not heard frequently in the modern rock scene.

In the midst of the Retro turmoil that has been injecting itself into the rock scene (White Stripes, Strokes, Vines, etc.), these guys bring in a sound that seems to be more derivative than original. In other words, they seem to be a composition of elements and genres, rather than an explicitly "new" sound. Despite this, they succeed in my book. I will attribute this mainly to the sound itself, without ignoring the range these songs encompass. The two said songs (along with "Sunny Day") are pleasant, soft, and almost cute. On the complete other side, songs like "Monster" and "Mercy Kiss" will find you chasing the band as they romp through angst-laden riffs, never letting down. At the end of the day, I will call them a mix between Athenaeum and Incubus.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Most Overlooked record of the year, September 27, 2002

By	J. Persh (West Bloomfield, MI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This record should have been more popular. Fans of late 80's/early 90's alternative will like it as well as the kids who are into the lighter bubblegum stuff of today. If it were a cereal it would be Cap'n'Crunch - Crunchy, but sweet. And not unlike milk, its good for you.