Post by Cupcake Avenger on Dec 24, 2004 16:11:37 GMT -5
I honestly just gave myself the username that I have because I liked the title of the album. I don't think it's a masterpiece. But it definetely could have been one. Bush had the potential for an "In Utero" style of Nirvana perfection, which is probably what they were shooting for, but they get carried away. In fact, they wanted an "In Utero" so much, they hired the same producer, Steve Albini (who also produced records by the Pixies, the Breeders, Bad Brains, and eventually Chevelle).
OK, so it's apparant by now that Bush were Nirvana rip-offs in their early days. But that doesn't necesarily make them bad. In fact, I have to say, the first six songs on this album are absolute masterpieces. The neo-punk "Personal Holloway" simmers with rage, only to explode on "Greedy Fly", to calm down to radio-friendly "Swallowed", a Weezer-esque tune, turn into steadily building emotional tension on "Insect Kin", despair in the emotional racket of "Cold Contagious" ,and then finish its greatness with the Nirvana-soundalike catchy post-grunge tune "A Tendancy to Start Fires".
Then something happens. The latter half of what could have been Bush's masterpiece is turned into whiny, violin-laden wannabe "Glycerine"s. For those not familiar with "Glycerine", it was a masterful, cello and violin song that featured frontman Gavin Rossdale pouring his emotions into a four-minute anthem of despair. However, the second half of Razorblade Suitcase doesn't achieve even close to what "Glycerine" got, and makes the album seem even worse than it is. That's because the first half is so fucking good, that I couldn't help but think (as quoted from and REM song), "It's crazy what you could have had." Sure, "History" and "Communicator" are fairly good, but still don't measure up to the first half.
Perhaps if Bush had made the choice of spreading out their good songs instead of cramming them into the first half of the album, it would have gone better. But nonetheless, Razorblade Suitcase is a powerful lyrical experience, as Rossdale sure does know how to pour sorrow into words. Its almost haunting sometimes to think of how much "Greedy Fly"'s lyrics sound like a Kurt Cobain-penned song. "Do you feel the way you hate :: do you hate the way you feel :: always closest to the flame :: ever closer to the blade".
Unfortunetely, Razorblade Suitcase just doesn't cut it. Perhaps if Gavin could restrain his whiny boy synfromes on the second half, the Brit-grunger's second studio album could have been masterful. But, it isn't. Cool title though.
By Ethan Findal
***1/2 out of *****
OK, so it's apparant by now that Bush were Nirvana rip-offs in their early days. But that doesn't necesarily make them bad. In fact, I have to say, the first six songs on this album are absolute masterpieces. The neo-punk "Personal Holloway" simmers with rage, only to explode on "Greedy Fly", to calm down to radio-friendly "Swallowed", a Weezer-esque tune, turn into steadily building emotional tension on "Insect Kin", despair in the emotional racket of "Cold Contagious" ,and then finish its greatness with the Nirvana-soundalike catchy post-grunge tune "A Tendancy to Start Fires".
Then something happens. The latter half of what could have been Bush's masterpiece is turned into whiny, violin-laden wannabe "Glycerine"s. For those not familiar with "Glycerine", it was a masterful, cello and violin song that featured frontman Gavin Rossdale pouring his emotions into a four-minute anthem of despair. However, the second half of Razorblade Suitcase doesn't achieve even close to what "Glycerine" got, and makes the album seem even worse than it is. That's because the first half is so fucking good, that I couldn't help but think (as quoted from and REM song), "It's crazy what you could have had." Sure, "History" and "Communicator" are fairly good, but still don't measure up to the first half.
Perhaps if Bush had made the choice of spreading out their good songs instead of cramming them into the first half of the album, it would have gone better. But nonetheless, Razorblade Suitcase is a powerful lyrical experience, as Rossdale sure does know how to pour sorrow into words. Its almost haunting sometimes to think of how much "Greedy Fly"'s lyrics sound like a Kurt Cobain-penned song. "Do you feel the way you hate :: do you hate the way you feel :: always closest to the flame :: ever closer to the blade".
Unfortunetely, Razorblade Suitcase just doesn't cut it. Perhaps if Gavin could restrain his whiny boy synfromes on the second half, the Brit-grunger's second studio album could have been masterful. But, it isn't. Cool title though.
By Ethan Findal
***1/2 out of *****
