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60 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rolling Stone Gets It Wrong Again, September 17, 2002
Years ago, Rolling Stone rated Nirvana's album Nevermind 3 stars. Ever since then, the magazine has gone downhill in the reviewing department. Giving 5 star reviews to only established "classic" artists like Bob Dylan, they often overlook newer, exciting bands. Their latest travesty--rating Ok Go's new album 2 stars--is pathetic at best. The album is a breath of fresh air in the pop genre--this is the "smart-pop" we've all been yearning for, drowning in the boy and girl band mud pool. In a world of "nu-metal", female singer-songwriters, bad (no really bad) radio pop, and derivative hip-hop, the need for music like this is urgent. Listen to "Get Over It" first (the first single and MTV2 video) and then get to the better stuff--"Bye Bye Baby", "Don't Ask Me", "What to Do", "You're So Damn Hot", and the exhilarating time-loop song about a guy with a problem that won't go away, "There's a Fire". The other tracks are equally strong, save for the strange "C-C-C-Cinnamon Lips" that seems out of place. Ok Go is in it's finest form in exciting live shows, but this CD is proof that they are here to stay on stage and off. Thank you to Capitol Records for recognizing their amazing talent.
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34 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bouncy, Retro, Acoustic and Beautiful, August 15, 2004
Well, by now I'm sure we're all familiar with the Strokes, the White Stripes, the Hives, and, by a slight stretch of fancy, the Vines. For some odd reason, "sounding old" is "sounding new". Personally, I don't understand the correlation but that seems to be the set-up nowadays. The point is: I don't like it. The Strokes were ok, I could listen to them and bob my head. I have mixed opinions on the Hives. At times I can listen to their stuff and appreciate it, at times I get angry. The Vines are also hit or miss with me, and the White Stripes? No. I know many people are against me here, but no.
Then there's OK Go.
Alright, time to play chemist and see how we could make OK Go with other elements. If we were to get this retro movement, add a little Weezer, a dab of Coldplay and a hint of Everclear, then we'd probably have something very similar to these pop-rock nuts. The first song I ever heard, "Get Over It", hinted at Weezer-ish elements of "smart-rock", but did not get close to the band's overall potential. Then I became familiar with songs like "You're So Damn Hot" and "Return", and the CD was mine.
OK Go has that sound that sounds old and new at the same time. I know that sounds cheezy and vague, but that's the truth. As you listen to them, you can easily imagine them on alternative rock radio and with raggedy apparel. But simultaneously, they have so many older elements (a synthesizer that screams mid-80's, a chorus of voices that can easily be the new Beach Boys, etc.) that cannot be ignored or overlooked. I mean, even the album cover looks like a hippie's wallpaper.
You can't tell me that the songs aren't fun. While some, notably "Return" and "1000 Miles Per Hour" are very mellow, songs like "You're so Damn Hot" and "Bye Bye Baby" will have you smiling guaranteed. Then there's songs like "The Fix Is In" and "There's a Fire" that... just deserve a good hearing. As a matter of fact, the whole CD deserves a good hearing. I love it, and you should too. "Get Over It" will hook you, but the rest of the CD will keep you.
Recommendations: "Get Over It", "Return", "Bye Bye Baby", "There's a Fire", "Don't Ask Me"
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I never say quite what I mean/I never mean quite what I say, October 28, 2002
If this album had a subtitle it would be: "...in which four snarky art school kids from Chicago endeavor to rock out with tongues planted firmly in cheek."After listening to OK Go's debut a few times, I am of the opinion that people who dislike this album strongly either don't care for power pop in general or just don't "get it." The lyrics are so smart alecky that I can't imagine anyone taking it too seriously. The album's aim seems to be mixing big, dumb choruses with whip smart lyrics, purposely confounding the legions of people waiting to dissect the album for faults. (i.e. Rolling Stone's curiously acidic two star review.) Amongst the usual power pop touchstones, you can hear bits and pieces of J. Geil's Band on the infectious first single "Get Over It" and The Knack's hormone-charged delivery on "You're So Damn Hot." It isn't all winks and nudges and knowing looks, though. The drumbeat on "Get Over It" returns on "1000 Miles Per Hour," one of the more restrained tracks on the album. Damian's vocals drop most of it's jokiness for the yearning "Return." It doesn't last long, though, because a groovy bassline from Tom Nordwind starts up the fun again on "There's A Fire." The cheeky and cheesy "C-C-C-Cinnamon Lips," with it's handclaps and high-pitched vocals, is another highlight. The haughty chorus to "What To Do" ("Mediocre people do exceptional things all the time...") is bound to polarize people, which I think is half the point. "Hello, My Treacherous Friends" is a great kiss off to the critics and naysayers. Smart songwriting, a bratty delivery and solid musicianship (not to mention a very affordable price) makes OK Go's debut a definate listen for power pop fans. Give it a shot. It's forty minutes well spent.
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