The Daily OrangeReview: MSTRKRFT
By Jett Wells
Posted: 3/24/09, 1:13 AM EST Section: Decibel
Artist: MSTRKRFT
Album: Fist of God
Genre(s): Dance, electronica
Sounds like: Death From Above 1979
30 Decibels
Although MSTRKRFT's genre is electro house, you can hardly call sophomore album "Fist of God" much of an album. Mind-numbing noise and poor sound mixing isn't an album to me.
"Fist of God" is the latest stumble in the long string of disappointing sophomore albums from big-name groups. Maybe it happens to the best of them, or maybe MSTRKRFT just got sloppy when they slapped together this five-track album. The album never lifts off because of the harsh synthesizer notes and overly-repetitive songs like "Vuvuvu" and "It Ain't Love (feat. Lil' Mo)," but has a silver lining in "Heartbreaker (feat. John Legend)." MSTRKRFT makes party music, but all this album will do is make your hangover that much worse in the morning.
"Vuvuvu" is a lazy, annoying song that sounds like a loud vortex trying to rip off your head. It's a techno dance song, but even good dance songs can translate to the music you listen to while walking to class in the morning. Unfortunately, this one just gives you a headache. Most of the short album is just as chaotic and messy.
Even though "Heartbreaker" is a pretty good song, it says a lot about the album that the best song is sung by a contributing artist. MSTRKRFT can't do it alone with sounds of crunching metal and wind-tunnels, which is why they got John Legend to pick up the slack. It's jarring how alien the song is compared to the rest of the album. It's not just because it's a good song, but because it has the basics elements of a structured pop song. What a concept.
MSTRKRFT needs to press the "reset" button and start over, because "Fist of God" doesn't have any heart.
tjwell01@syr.edu
Album: Fist of God
Genre(s): Dance, electronica
Sounds like: Death From Above 1979
30 Decibels
Although MSTRKRFT's genre is electro house, you can hardly call sophomore album "Fist of God" much of an album. Mind-numbing noise and poor sound mixing isn't an album to me.
"Fist of God" is the latest stumble in the long string of disappointing sophomore albums from big-name groups. Maybe it happens to the best of them, or maybe MSTRKRFT just got sloppy when they slapped together this five-track album. The album never lifts off because of the harsh synthesizer notes and overly-repetitive songs like "Vuvuvu" and "It Ain't Love (feat. Lil' Mo)," but has a silver lining in "Heartbreaker (feat. John Legend)." MSTRKRFT makes party music, but all this album will do is make your hangover that much worse in the morning.
"Vuvuvu" is a lazy, annoying song that sounds like a loud vortex trying to rip off your head. It's a techno dance song, but even good dance songs can translate to the music you listen to while walking to class in the morning. Unfortunately, this one just gives you a headache. Most of the short album is just as chaotic and messy.
Even though "Heartbreaker" is a pretty good song, it says a lot about the album that the best song is sung by a contributing artist. MSTRKRFT can't do it alone with sounds of crunching metal and wind-tunnels, which is why they got John Legend to pick up the slack. It's jarring how alien the song is compared to the rest of the album. It's not just because it's a good song, but because it has the basics elements of a structured pop song. What a concept.
MSTRKRFT needs to press the "reset" button and start over, because "Fist of God" doesn't have any heart.
tjwell01@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Mary C
posted 3/24/09 @ 9:36 PM EST
Great job. This review is hilarious! I need to go listen to "Vuvuvu" so I can experience a "loud vortex trying to rip off your head" myself!
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