Language. Sex. Violence. Other?

Stereophonics

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 29, 2005)
• Original Release Date: March 22, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: V2 North America
• ASIN: B0007OTWQW
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #103,685 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Stereophonics' fifth album will inevitably provide more material for the band's critics, if only for the fact its title has clearly been rather lazily inspired from the back of a rental video case. The music within, however, is anything but laid-back: the employment of Argentinean drummer Javier Weyler, who replaces founding member Stuart Cable, sees the band venturing further along the hard-rock path that spawned previous denim-and-leather-clad tracks like "Moviestar". The first three tracks find frontman Kelly Jones is in downbeat mood, his vocals drawled and insouciant, and his lyrics distinctly sour--take the raging "Doorman", where he rails against some faceless bouncer with surprising and rather paranoid ferocity: "You like nothing more than to break my face/ You like to throw me out on the street!". Things sweeten towards the album's middle, providing two of the album's stand-out tracks: the chiming, electronic-tinged "Dakota" is a light, buoyant anthem that deserves to be a hit, while "Rewind" is a reflective moment that pricks memories of mid-period U2. But on the whole, Language. Sex. Violence. Other? isn't an album out to win new fans – it's an album that caters to the Stereophonics' rock faithful, and it's them who'll really dig it. --Louis Pattison

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Top CD of 2005, May 2, 2005

By	Daniel Maltzman (Arlington, MA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

4.5 Stars

Although the listener might immediately label this band as Brit-Pop, this album is actually rather an eclectic, grab-bag of styles. It's a mix of "Mechanical Animals" era Marilyn Manson, Oasis, the Beatles, Duran Duran, and New Order.

With "Language, Sex, Violence, Other?," the band can still fit the category of "Brit pop." However, overall, the Stereophonics go for more polished sound. It's not stripped down garage-rock, like "Words Gets Around" (1997), but rather very slick and clean sounding. But that's not a bad thing. The band still sounds fast and furious, and have written a batch of really good songs. Although there are some standouts, like the opening "Superman," the infectious "Dakota" and excellent "Lolita," the entire album is quite solid. Kelly Jones has a fine voice, and an excellent guitar player. He may not be a virtuoso, but he has a knack for writing catchy, original riffs with good hooks, and solos. Richard Jones (bass) and Javier Weyler (drums) provide a stellar and exciting rhythm section.

The whole album is tight and well written. The album starts out strong with the moody, mid-tempo "Superman," which actually sounds a lot like "Great Big White World," the opening song from Manson's "Mechanical Animals." The band gets fast-and-furious with the excellent "Doofman," which reminds me a bit of Oasis's "(What the Story) Morning Glory." The albums slows down a bit, but without loosing momentum with "Brother," which is a "Mechanical Animals" Manson-like, mid-tempo rocker. The subtle piano throughout "Devil" gives the song a really cool haunting feel. The hit "Dakota" is the album's highlight. This mid-tempo poppy song is totally infectious and is somewhat reminiscent of Duran Duran, or New Order. "Dakota" slides perfectly into the spacey "Rewind." The band sounds a little more stripped down for the semi-garage sounding mid-tempo "Pedal Pusher" and the harder rocking "Girl." The dreamy "Lolita" sounds reminiscent of New Order, but with Beatles-like chorus. "Deadwood" is another solid, Oasis-like rocker. The somewhat morose "Feel" closes out the album.

This album is a synthesis of a grab-bag of styles, but everything works. It's great CD and it just gets better with repeated plays. One of the best albums of 2005.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Rock and Roll, January 7, 2006

By	Jacob Cowell "Christian Comic Stereophonic Fan" (Waterloo, IA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the album that I've been waiting and looking for. Amazing. There really isn't a better word to describe it. This is pure rock and roll at its best. I'm a huge fan of Brit rock to begin with, and Stereophonics are a perfect modle of how great Brit rock should sound. I got turned on to these guys from the Wicker Park soundtrack where I heard their song "Maybe Tomorrow", which made me go out and buy their album You Got to Go There to Come Back. That album itself I found incredible, which made me want to hear how they had evolved as a band; henceforth, I went out and bought Language. This is a totally different sound than the aforementioned album, but one to be embraced. Kelly Jones has easily become one of my favorite lyricists and vocalists. His raspy vocals just lodge in the brain and keep the lyrics repeating in your mind. But the music is just clever in a way that other bands have seemed to want to abandon somewhat. Others may compare Stereophonics with Oasis or Coldplay or other Brit bands, but I think they've got their own sound, which is a mixture of many different types of music. But this review isn't supposed to be about the band, but the album right? Right off, from the beginning, with "Superman", this record takes off. In fact, the only songs that I don't fancy on the entire album are "Doorman", and "Girl", and they're not even that bad. I've got a fondness especially for "Devil","Rewind", and the standout of the album, "Dakota", but the whole thing rocks and just makes you happy. I can't think of many other records that do that to me.
A must have.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine comeback after the previous two records., November 2, 2005

By	Matthew Graves (Myrtle Beach, SC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read some of the reviews on this page and felt compelled to add my own. This is a great Stereophonics album and for those who apparently don't know it is the bands fifth recording. The album shakes off the experimental, laid back feel of JEEP and You've Gotta Go There To Come Back and returns to the heavier, up tempo sounds of Performance And Cocktails and the fantastic debut Word Gets Around. True enough Dakota is a stand out track but Superman and Devil are equally as strong and there is plenty of strength in depth to go with it. Anyone who isn't familiar with the band I'd definitely recommend this album but I'd also suggest the first two aswell. I'm from Caerphilly; South Wales and was fortunate to hear their early tracks before they signed with V2 and released Word Gets Around.