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Blotto
Singles Collection 2004-2007 |
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Tracklist |
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01 - LIFE (The Beginning)
02 - REMIND
03 - ストロマトライト (Stromatolite)
04 - FREE STAR
05 - 式日 (Shikijitsu)
06 - WALK
07 - room NO.138(inst.)
08 - 街の輪郭 (Machi no Rinkaku)
09 - オールドサンセット (Old Sunset)
10 - 金色のカペラ (Kiniro no Capella)
11 - UNFOLD
12 - TO THE WORLD'S END
13 - LIFE (the ending) |
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Review |
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I'm betting that Acidman are big believers in reincarnation. The jacket on their latest album boldly proclaims "Life Woven in Thirteen Tapestries by Acidman." But we've heard (seen?) these tapestries before, as Life mainly sticks with resurrected ideas from its predecessor green chord, which deviated little from its predecessor and world. Chalk it up to a creative plateau, or maybe a karmic loop, but don't be looking for the next iteration of Acidman's style on this album.
Past the now-obligatory instrumental opening, Life showcases its potential right at the front of the lineup. "REMIND" starts with familiar hard rock but drops in a few twists and tempo changes, a pleasant surprise for one of Acidman's more aggressive compositions. "Stromatolite" does it one better, seamlessly weaving dance-rock into the band's anthemic style to make the most exciting song on the album, if not the past two albums.
Life's rebellious phase unfortunately ends there, as it's back to the mellower status quo after "Stromatolite." Granted, the songs here are hard to pick on individually, thanks to Acidman's strong instrumentation and often very catchy songwriting. Still, after two whole albums of this stuff, any track that less than consummates the band's laid back style is going to feel tired and nondescript.
The album flames out in its final minutes with more hard rock. The songs cast about loudly in an attempt to coax some energy back to the recording, but like before, the result is very played. Maybe Life is just a cruel allegory, that we're all doomed to repeat ourselves after a brief, early flash of brilliance. It's more likely that Acidman is sticking to a formula that remains adequate rather than continuing to tweak and mature their sound, which made their first four albums so memorable. As the first couple of songs on Life prove, Acidman has the chops to take their craft one step forward when the next tapestries hit the looms. But karma can be a real bitch sometimes. |
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