borrowed tunes

« more mp3 blogs :: #1 songs in heaven; monkeyfilter list | Main | in the country :: this was the pace of my heartbeat »

May 11, 2005

the raveonettes :: pretty in black

(buy)

The Raveonettes first release, the long EP Whip It On, was an intermittently interesting if overly contrived slice of noir fuzz, proud of its compositional limitations: it was all in B-flat minor, and proud of it. It seemed like this was probably one male-female alterna-rock style project too many, and they would probably disappear quickly.

For the first full-length, they shocked me by moving to B-flat major and delivering a consistently winning set of tiny pop songs combining the Jesus and Mary Chain's buzzing reverb with girl-group/doo-wop simplicity. Chain Gang of Love wasn't a great album, but it was a good one with a few great songs, and I knew I'd have to pay closer attention.

Just like the Jesus and Mary Chain, and like almost every band that starts noisy, they've cleaned up considerably for Pretty In Black. Now the sound is almost pure airy girl-group borne on a bed of modern detached rhythm. The single-key conceit is gone. The fog is cleared.

And half of the album holds up to the exposure. It eases in through a couple of chilled openers into a stretch of the most complete, distinctive songs they've recorded. They are still soaked in reverence for the old ways, but they swing and propel themselves with a confidence that lifts them beyond style experiments. You have incredible hope listening to this record for the first time that you're hearing a band grow into its own out of a set of limitations that seemed inevitably crippling.

Then comes the petering out. With a cover of "My Boyfriend's Back" (could it get more obvious?), and the cringeworthily titled "Ode to L.A." including a Ronnie Spector appearance that brings Eddie Money to mind, the second half slips too easily into its formulas. The cinematic "Somewhere In Texas" is worth seeking out; the rest is pleasant enought, but forgettable - and forgotten. This disc is destined for the cutout bins, where the right price will be paid for half of an excellent record.

Also, literate listeners beware: they're Danes. Don't get too close to the lyrics.

Sleepwalking (mp3)
Somewhere in Texas (mp3)

Posted by borrowed_tunes at May 11, 2005 10:20 PM

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.thescrimshanders.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/59

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference the raveonettes :: pretty in black:

» Motorhead from Tore Strim
the raveonettes :: pre... [Read More]

Tracked on October 13, 2005 08:32 AM

» Natural Pain Relief Medication from Andrea Ammara
the raveonettes :: pre... [Read More]

Tracked on October 29, 2005 08:19 PM

» Natural Pain Relief Medication from Andrea Ammara
the raveonettes :: pre... [Read More]

Tracked on October 29, 2005 08:19 PM

» suprax from Nadine Winkelmann
the raveonettes :: pre... [Read More]

Tracked on November 5, 2005 10:22 AM

» pregnancy plan from pregnancy plan
checkout pregnancy calculator,pregnancy week by week and pregnancy planpregnancy plan<... [Read More]

Tracked on November 22, 2005 03:56 PM

» Captain Stabbin Adventures from Captain Stabbin Adventures
Captain stabbin   Captain stabbin     [Read More]

Tracked on November 25, 2005 10:36 AM

» Hot Babes from Hot Babes
Hot babes     [Read More]

Tracked on November 27, 2005 12:54 PM

» RED HOT GUYS from RED HOT GUYS
Redhotgays   Pureebonyman     [Read More]

Tracked on November 29, 2005 07:02 AM

» ass-cum from Becker Urs
the raveonettes :: pre... [Read More]

Tracked on December 1, 2005 11:51 AM

» ass-free-gallery from Fiali Olancler
the raveonettes :: pre... [Read More]

Tracked on December 1, 2005 09:07 PM

» Your Bonus Casino from Your Bonus Casino
Your Bonus Casino     [Read More]

Tracked on December 9, 2005 02:36 AM

» Squirt from Squirt
Squirt     [Read More]

Tracked on December 17, 2005 07:32 AM

» BBW Babes from BBW Babes
BBW Babes     [Read More]

Tracked on December 20, 2005 01:28 AM

» Payday Loans from Payday Loans
Personal Loans is a niceblogers. [Read More]

Tracked on December 22, 2005 06:12 AM

» Cumshots - Sticky Cum Face Girls from Cumshots - Sticky Cum Face Girls
Cumfiesta - girls get cumfaced & video taped!   Cumshots     [Read More]

Tracked on December 26, 2005 04:40 AM

» Adult Personals from Adult Personals
Adult Personals is a niceblogers. [Read More]

Tracked on December 31, 2005 11:43 PM

» buy phentermine cod from by phentermmine cod
... [Read More]

Tracked on January 14, 2006 01:42 PM

» dirt cheap airline tickets from dirt cheap airline tickets
really cheap airline tickets [Read More]

Tracked on January 14, 2006 06:20 PM

» Payday Loans from Payday Loans
Payday Loans is a niceblog. [Read More]

Tracked on January 19, 2006 03:15 AM

» cephalexin keflex from cephalexin keflex
Description with links to full prescribing information for this [Read More]

Tracked on January 26, 2006 11:38 AM

» blog and ping from blog and ping
this isa niceblog ... [Read More]

Tracked on February 1, 2006 01:15 AM

» buy soma cash on delivery cod from buy soma cash on delivery cod
... [Read More]

Tracked on February 5, 2006 04:27 PM

» lowes from lowes
lowes [Read More]

Tracked on February 6, 2006 02:44 AM

» Free Ringtones from Free Ringtones
Free Ringtones [Read More]

Tracked on February 12, 2006 10:35 AM

Comments

Posted by: Trixie at May 15, 2005 09:36 AM

Posted by: borrowed tunes at May 16, 2005 11:28 AM

Posted by: willy@gmail.com at April 29, 2007 07:13 PM

Posted by: richard@gmail.com at April 30, 2007 11:06 PM

Posted by: brtney@gmail.com at May 1, 2007 11:23 AM

Posted by: green@gmail.com at May 5, 2007 10:08 PM

Posted by: nikolas@gmail.com at May 6, 2007 10:34 AM

Posted by: jessica@gmail.com at May 7, 2007 12:02 AM

Posted by: jessica@gmail.com at May 7, 2007 12:03 AM

Posted by: Alan at July 17, 2007 09:07 AM

Posted by: hodc ikcwz at July 25, 2007 06:16 PM

Posted by: FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS at September 15, 2007 02:31 AM

Posted by: limewire at November 28, 2007 04:47 AM

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: