THE DRUMMERS - LADYTRONReleased: 17 November 2012
Genres: Ska, Funk Rock, Chiptune, Up-tempo Reggae
Personnel:
Matthew Holland (Lead Vocals, Trumpet)
Clark Maxwell (Guitars)
Jesse Dubinsky (Guitars)
Jason Engarde (Keytar, Piano, Synthesizers)
Brandon Johnson (Bass, Trombone on "We Should Have Started A Long Time Ago")
Shaun Olsen (Drums, Percussion, Bongos on "We Should Have Started A Long Time Ago")
Produced by Sam James.In an era where punk and reggae haven't quite met yet, one band mercilessly mashes them together in this album right here. That band is The Drummers and this album is called Ladytron. The inspiration for the name comes from the nickname given to bassist Brandon Johnson's quiet, still, and seemingly evil girlfriend whom the rest of the band considered a robot. Another reason for this kind of sci-fi name was the music itself. As keytarist Jason Engarde describes, "It has a lot more production to it than we've ever had in an album. We actually took inspiration from some sounds we'd heard in retro videogames and incorporated them into our sound."
Even with all this chiptune video game business, the album opens with "Attack," an ass-kicking funk rock song reminiscent of Incubus' S.C.I.E.N.C.E. It features loud, distorted guitars, slap bass, a Van Halen-esque keytar solo, and a wild, yet well played drum beat. Some faster ska tunes follow, but the album hits a high point when tracks 6, 7, and 8 emerge. Ladytron gets a little slower and more melodic with "Policia," a reggae song with clean electric and acoustic guitars, bongos, tambourines, and a soft, Nintendo synthesizer pad being played like a piano. This ends and goes right into "N.E.S. (Nothing's Ever Satisfying)," followed by "G.B.A. (Girls Believe Anything)." The final track on the album (We Should Have Started A Long Time Ago) is a soft, sad ending that pans into a strong, even more heartbreaking ending filled with undertones of rock, reggae, and even metal.
Matthew Holland's lyrics are astoundingly deep, funny, and even sarcastic at times. They greatly match the tone of the album, and the tone of the whole band.
TRACKLIST
All songs written by Matthew Holland
1. Attack (3:25)
2. Kill The Rich (2:27)
3. That Great Divide (4:01)
4. Pointless (2:59)
5. Girls Who Play Guitar (3:43)
6. Policia (3:21)
7. NES (Nothing's Ever Satisfying) (5:13)
8. GBA (Girls Believe Anything) (3:19)
9. Steel (4:17)
10. Do Not Listen To This Song (2:04)
11. Loving You (Is Difficult Cause You're Shallow) (3:30)
12. No Longer In Service (3:18)
13. We Should Have Started A Long Time Ago (6:58)
