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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The next step in the Q progression, October 10, 2004
The verdict is still, in many respects, out, but I can already tell that this album is growing on me in the same way that Different Damage and No Kill did. Power is about as much of a leap from Damage as Damage was a leap from No Kill.
The songwriting is top notch. Yes, people will hear the opening track "Wonderful People" and draw the obvious Justin Timberlake/Michael Jackson comparisons, but the most likely scenario is not that Q and Not U is drawing on watered down pop influences, but more likely that they're turning to the same source influences as perhaps some of these pop geeks are. In other words, the gentlemen of Q and Not U continue to listen to a wide variety of music, including but certainly not limited to Parliament, Afro-beat, post-punk like Gang of Four, but probably mostly putting on records by their DC gogo and Dischord contemporaries. The listen to all this music and allow themselves to garner some influence from it while still putting their own take on the music.
Speaking of Dischord contemporaries, my biggest complaint about the album is the production--Ian MacKaye and Don Zienetra did a superb job of giving the Q a natural recording sound for their past several albums and singles, but the production duties on Power were handled by the gentlemen from the DC band El Guapo (who incidentally, I've never liked much). El Guapo production makes Q and Not U sound, well, more like El Guapo! However, the key difference is that Q and Not U actually write good songs, but they come close to ruining a few of their songs with useless noise in the name of experimentation (Sheck out the pointless recorder meandering on the updated version of "X-Polynation" and tell me if you agree). Either way, El Guapo can't ruin the live show, and it will be interesting to see how Q and Not U translates (or re-translates) this music back to a live setting.
The biggest leap in terms of the actual music is a far greater reliance on keyboards for many of the tracks. While guitar-based Q and Not U will always hold a special place in my heart, and indeed can still be found on this album, the use of keyboards on this album is largely done in a tasteful manner.
Another key difference is the lyric writing. Power finds Chris Richards using a much more direct lyrical style, even more didactic at times. The end result is that you have an album that is less lyrically open to interpretation, which is sad, but the majority of the lyrics on this ablum are top notch. Harris Klahr sings 4 tracks on the album, and his off-kilter lyrics are great, especially on a standout track like L.A.X. However, Chris Richard's singing still carries the majority of the album, and his earnest vocal offerings on "Wet Work" and "Collect the Diamonds" serve as the album's centerpieces. The backbone of Q and Not U remains John Davis' inventive drumming, and fans will not be disappointed by his work on this album.
When you start listening to Power, the sooner you put yourself in the hands of Q and Not U and let them do the driving, the sooner you'll be able to enjoy this great record for what it is and not worry about what it could have been. I have trouble letting other people drive me anywhere, but with this album, I'm getting used to it. I'm even enjoying it.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Get your dance on!, December 26, 2004
This cd is quite wonderful. A leap from their previous, marvelous efforts, this album expands without ruining the elements of Q and noy U that make them who they are. A nice fusion of the past two albums, with some very nice addtions, I think this band and this album are pretty amazing. and fun. and great live. ok thats about all I think.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I want more !!!!, October 7, 2004
Wow...I was pretty taken back when I first heard this album..My brother thought "Wonderful People"(the first track on the album) was the new single by Justin Timberlake...Umm yeah. The boys in Q and not U do it once again and manage to keep it real and keep it funky on their third album, "Power"...Lots of synth,lots of percussion and a whole lot of love is what you'll get if you pick up "Power". Check them out when they come to your town too..
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