Satan's Luau

Blindside - Silence: A
(One of the Luau's 2003 Top 5 CDs - to date)

I must admit that I, even by my own standards, have been listening to a TON of Swedish music ... but even in my Swedeliriousness (not to make fun but this is the SARS that means something to me - Swedish Awesome Recording Syndrome)... if I reach for Ace of Base, someone please get the stick and beat some sense into my ABBA-possessed body ... ha

Ok, another Swedish band to hype ... and surprise surprise, it ain't THE HIVES ... yes, they are Swedes too ... amazing how much great music is coming from our Scandinavian pals up on the top of the world ... who knew lack of sun and socialized medicine were a potent mixture for musical creativity ... ha

I actually found out about this band in a curious way ... I think I was reading an interview posted on the Reign Radio website ( you have an Internet , why not use it --- you pay for it don't you ... ha)

The interview was with Mr. Sweet about the new Stryper G-Hits CD, then all of a sudden ... the interviewer asked what he was listening to ... and they both admitted to listening to Blindside ... and I was like Whodafewk is that????

So I went to their website, and was mostly unimpressed with the clips on the website that day ... actually about a month or so ago ... anyways, so I left it alone

Then I noticed it on sale for 9 bucks at Borders while looking for something else ... and I was like, sheesh, how bad could it be ... the buzz on this band is pretty good ... they've been on Conan and are now getting spins on Mtv2 ... ok ok, it was a cheap CD ... there I said it

So what do you get when you mix the style of the Deftones, maybe some old school Helmet and Alice in Chains crunch, with the rhythms and melodies of Linkin Park, and a nod to P.O.D. ... well, honestly nothing that exists on this planet is this combination ... but the mix is pretty close to describing in words what Blindside sounds like

Ok, some history, this band has actually put out 3 or 4 discs already, and some of the long-time listeners have a preference for the one before this one ... but heck, I don't have the others nor have I listened to the others at all

The two songs that the label wants to push are "Caught a Glimpse" and "Pitiful", which are ironically #1 and #2 on the disc ... so as a skeptical reviewer, I'm like ok, so much like a trailer of a comedy that gives away the good jokes ... this CD may be 1, 2 then fill fill fill ... but much to my surprise ... its a deep CD with a great deal of interesting sounding music

"Caught a Glimpse" has an open-ended crunch riff that makes your brain want to say nu-metal ... but has this ear candy redeeming melodic open heavy quality that doesn't put your ears to sleep ... and hella cool vocal and choral harmonies ... it essentially out-Godsmacks Godsmack without the highly contrived "evil soundingness" .... In fact GS sounds like a child's crude crayonic drawing of mommy and me compared to this track (which is in my opinion what GS would sound like if they lived up to their potential ... don't get me started on that F+ that "Faceless" is ... 9 bucks pist away!)

Without draining superlatives of meaning, "Pitiful" is one heck of a track ... its one of the best nu rock tracks I've heard since the Gregorian turned to the 3rd millennium (2000s) ... need I say more ... oh, and not even REMOTELY Creedish

It's hard to say whether "Pitiful" is better than the third track "Sleepwalking" -- which is the song that is getting heavy mainstream push right now --- this one takes some elements from the System of a Down playbook and has one of the most compelling epic sounding choruses and 80s-style guitar effects --- but although it may not initially listenable there are just wonderful layers to this track that sound different on a computer, in your car, on Bose noise-red headphones

Not wanting to let up "Cute Boring Love" is the most satiric, smart, simple song I've heard about being in a modern love/lust relationship ... did XTC or Elvis Costello write this? ... and roll it into a moody as FARK straight-driving song ... quality already at the 1/3rd mark is VERY HIGH, so I'm fikken ecstatic

"The Endings" is kinda unique sounding, more atmospheric --- same elements as the first four but turned inside out ... kind of a hmmm ok song ... ok, so the CD is not perfect ... hahahahaha

"You Can Hide It" is a very listenable mixed tempo cut with feel from the Deftones School of confused emo and big sounding Saliva singalong chorus.

"Thought Like Flames" ... ok, did we switch mic feeds to the Deftones studio ... an ok track that is almost an Homage to the shrine of Chino, twangy guitars and variable enviromental electronic beeps/boops and all ... listenable (and then so what, not really breaking ground here)

"Time Will Change Your Heart" --- wow, who switched my CD with that of a cool- ashe metalcore band ... this song BASHES the hell out of your ears, but you like it, yes you like it (maybe you rather listen to Norah Jones, but the rest of us shall RAWKK out with this one) ..... most reviews say that this is how BSide used to sound like, if so, I think I better mosey to Cheapo and check it out ... I love metalcore/hardcore sounding raw crunch with good melodic hooks ... another outstanding track ... almost LParkish to another level

"Painting" nicely blends an old school moody, airy Alice In Chains feel with an anthemic nu-metal dynamic chorus that matches up well with great Hooba or POD Alive moments ... the breakdown in the bridge is some of the most melodically heavy (BUT TOO SHORT --- like 20 secs) stuff since the mid-80s or even comparing well with modern Swede metaller, In Flames --- they should have let the jam run here ... complaints aside, what a track

"Midnight" is well put together ... hella depressing sounding verse with a frantic tone in a mid-tempo that is barely kept under control (its a cool effect) ... but the chorus slows it down and is beautiful in its simplicity and emotional sincerity ... wow ditto ... great track ... sheesh can I gush more good floods of praise vomit

"Coming Back To Life" -- this one is more conventional nu-metal sounding at first listen but with jazzy, more complex layers and tempos --- this one is risky because its not really that listenable ... but it shows an great understanding of how to work things at various tempos together in a listenable style ... meshuggah for us unsophisticated peons ... its not an instant hit as much as it is cool because of some interesting musicianship and song composition

"She Shut Your Eyes", well its back to Deftones in Studio B ... ha ... actually its an okay to listen to track but has that ehhh its alright kind of feel to it ... maybe if I liked Mr. Moreno's band a bit more .... *shrug*

"Silence" is a play with feel ... it takes on a Sonic Youth or Deftones-influenced, dirty mono sound ... with a single twangy jangly guitar ... I find it interesting for taking a chance and messing with the listener's expectations of what a rock song can sound like in the modern day ... listenable, not my favorite, but interesting for what it's worth

I feel self-conscious lately and find myself apologizing for a band's musical evolution or place as being not necessarily the most cutting edge, nouveau, or daringly different ...

Honestly, you have heard the elements of what make Blindside great in other bands, but unlike being derivative and draining life out of Creed-ches and getting change (like nickels) back from the mainstream, this band is musically different enough to provide a refreshing take on what it means to put out a solid ROCK album --- this is a most WELCOME change of pace from the vast majority of alterna-rock and nu-metal/nu-rock bands and their efforts

Oh and by the way, these guys are the opening band on the Linkin Park Projekt Revolution Tour ... who did we come to see again???

I don't care anymore, these opening guys rock, replies this reviewer.

Christian - this band - do you care?

(ed.note: as of 4/22/03)
Satan's Luau Top 5 for 2003 THUS FAR
1. Shadows Fall - The Art of Balance
2. Blindside - Silence
3. Pillar - Fireproof
4. Primal Fear - Black Sun
5. Voivod - Voivod