Author's note: a version of these reviews are published in the July 2010 issue of the Groove.
We Need Surgery CD review
Photo credit: me
The quintet’s second 10-song effort released last month doesn't depart far from their successful retro-rock formula: keyboard, bass, vocals, and drums - best heard when turned up to 11 and blasted from your MP3 player or computer speakers. I saw these guys not too long ago - plenty of energy to keep the crowd jumping.
While We Need Surgery has managed to rock enough Korean venues to make most any band jealous, it's possible you've not yet heard of the band. Combine a bass that alternates between bouncy and killer with fun chops on the synth that occasionally remind me of chiptunes. Throw in some vocals that would fit in on a Killers or White Stripes disc, and don't forget about the drums and guitars keeping everything else together. That’s We Need Surgery at its finest.
That no two songs sound similar is a testament to their creativity. A few effects may bend your ears, but thankfully don't last long enough to make you skip to the next track. From post-punk to electronica to 80’s Brit-pop, there’s enough variety to make you think the guys have gone schizophrenic.
While several songs will sound familiar from their live show, the mixing and mastering available in studio really makes everything pop. Being able to take in the vocals make the CD worth the purchase alone - as does taking these guys with you wherever you need an energy boost. Oh yeah – they’re great live too.
Seoul City Suicides CD review
Photo credit: the band's Myspace page
The modern / metal / grunge rock band's first EP comes at a time when original music is really becoming appreciated in Dae Han Min Guk. Their first show as a band placed 2nd at Stompers Battle of the Bands; after less than a year together, they've built quite a following and played a surprising lineup of venues. That only 7 songs made it to the CD tells me there's plenty more where this came from. "You Got It" reminds me of a grungier AC/DC, while "Gonzo" shows their instrumental chops, with few lyrics needed to make the song work. There isn't a huge emphasis on vocals throughout the album, but again, they're not really needed to thoroughly enjoy the disc. If vocals are your thing, give "Watch Me Die" or "Hot String Red" your attention.
The disc starts off with a bang - literally. A few chaotic-sounding seconds into "Watch Me Die" the first shot of energy comes out of the speakers and keeps it up for the rest of the song. It loses a bit of energy in the last song, and fading out at the end of "Sad Wit Yourself" is not something I'd have predicted. Perhaps it's an incentive to start the CD over again, but I did enjoy the mellow moment.
It's not as long as their live shows, but there's more than enough to love in the 25+ minutes of music. Pick it up if you're ready to rock or want some more energy during exercise.
We Need Surgery CD review
Photo credit: me
The quintet’s second 10-song effort released last month doesn't depart far from their successful retro-rock formula: keyboard, bass, vocals, and drums - best heard when turned up to 11 and blasted from your MP3 player or computer speakers. I saw these guys not too long ago - plenty of energy to keep the crowd jumping.
While We Need Surgery has managed to rock enough Korean venues to make most any band jealous, it's possible you've not yet heard of the band. Combine a bass that alternates between bouncy and killer with fun chops on the synth that occasionally remind me of chiptunes. Throw in some vocals that would fit in on a Killers or White Stripes disc, and don't forget about the drums and guitars keeping everything else together. That’s We Need Surgery at its finest.
That no two songs sound similar is a testament to their creativity. A few effects may bend your ears, but thankfully don't last long enough to make you skip to the next track. From post-punk to electronica to 80’s Brit-pop, there’s enough variety to make you think the guys have gone schizophrenic.
While several songs will sound familiar from their live show, the mixing and mastering available in studio really makes everything pop. Being able to take in the vocals make the CD worth the purchase alone - as does taking these guys with you wherever you need an energy boost. Oh yeah – they’re great live too.
Seoul City Suicides CD review
Photo credit: the band's Myspace page
The modern / metal / grunge rock band's first EP comes at a time when original music is really becoming appreciated in Dae Han Min Guk. Their first show as a band placed 2nd at Stompers Battle of the Bands; after less than a year together, they've built quite a following and played a surprising lineup of venues. That only 7 songs made it to the CD tells me there's plenty more where this came from. "You Got It" reminds me of a grungier AC/DC, while "Gonzo" shows their instrumental chops, with few lyrics needed to make the song work. There isn't a huge emphasis on vocals throughout the album, but again, they're not really needed to thoroughly enjoy the disc. If vocals are your thing, give "Watch Me Die" or "Hot String Red" your attention.
The disc starts off with a bang - literally. A few chaotic-sounding seconds into "Watch Me Die" the first shot of energy comes out of the speakers and keeps it up for the rest of the song. It loses a bit of energy in the last song, and fading out at the end of "Sad Wit Yourself" is not something I'd have predicted. Perhaps it's an incentive to start the CD over again, but I did enjoy the mellow moment.
It's not as long as their live shows, but there's more than enough to love in the 25+ minutes of music. Pick it up if you're ready to rock or want some more energy during exercise.
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© Chris Backe - 2010
This post was originally published on my blog, Chris in South Korea. If you are reading this on another website and there is no linkback or credit given, you are reading an UNAUTHORIZED FEED.
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