Black Kids – Partie Traumatic Review
The Black Kids released their highly anticipated album Partie Traumatic stateside on July 22 after a well received Wizards of Ahhhs EP that I even really dug myself. I bought into the hype and I was looking forward to the album. Due to that hype they signed to Columbia records and all of sudden weren’t indie anymore.
Pitchfork did one of those, “picture” reviews giving them a 3.3 out of 10 for their album. While it was hilarious, the real problem is that Pitchfork was the real reason for the Black Kids’ hype and they couldn’t even justify the 3.3.
I’m going to start by being honest, I hate the album but I’ll at least try to explain why.
The Wizard of Ahhhs EP was and still is a great EP and I still go back to it to listen to the touch of great power pop mixed with great singing. The use of keyboard synthesizers, albeit simple was one strong attraction. The Black Kids used all 4 songs from their EP and while I don’t have a problem with that, I have the problem of changing the songs WAY too much and making them crappy.
Hurricane Jane, I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You, Hit The Heartbreaks and I’ve Underestimated My Charm Again were all adjusted to have less keyboards and more guitar strumming. The problem is with this is that the music required the music to rely on back up vocals and lyrics. The back up vocals sound like a child who’s been punched in the throat. A bit of frog voice on Hit The Heartbreaks. The only song that comes close to the original is INGTYBHTDWY as they kept things the same.
The producer Bernard Butler somehow persuaded the Black Kids to ditch their power pop strength into something weaker and diluted. The Black Kids showed off some serious flare self-releasing their EP. When I call the Black Kids “sell outs”, I don’t care if they’re signing to a major label, it’s the fact that they now are sucking musically for a major label.
After I was disappointed in the 4 original tracks, I tried to check out the 6 other tracks. I must admit the song “I’m Making Eyes At You” is a great softer song. The thing with this song, it seems to know its place. Vocals and instruments are quiet together, nothing seems contrived, and that contrast that’s there on so many songs on this album, isn’t present. (It sounds like a Cut Copy song btw).
Otherwise the rest of the album isn’t really special anyway. Some songs sound lame (see: title track) and others didn’t have that “it factor” that made the EP great.
I’m usually not the type to hate a band that goes mainstream, only if they release a lackluster album. It’s really unfortunate but the Black Kids can do better then this. If anything I’ll blame Bernard Butler.
Rating: 1.25 out of 5
MP3: I’m Making Eyes At You by Black Kids
Buy the album at CDUniverse/Insound/Amazon
Думаю понравится любому!