The Dissociatives - The Dissociatives
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Free Music Notes for The Dissociatives
Free Music Review: One of the most underrated albums of all time
Hit: 5 Stars
For me this is one of the top 5 Australian albums of all time and overlooked by nearly all until they hear it. Daniel Johns is the greatest front man and songwriter Australia has at present and this will go down as one of his most unheralded efforts. Despite the enjoyment that Silverchair provide, we can only hope that Johns takes time out to produce another Dissociatives album (or two) with Paul Mac. This is intelligent music with some very subtle elements built on the back of a very solid core band. Also worth getting a copy of the bootleg live at the Enmore that's out there because live this band really rocked.
Free Music Review: "Forever and a dayyy..so cold, so cooold..."
Hit: 4 Stars
Reading all of the reviews posted here several months ago I was unpleasantly surprised to see that nobody mentioned the song "Forever and a Day" as a standout track on this album. The album is truly worth having even if only for this song alone! It has to be one of the loveliest, most breathtakingly beautiful songs that I've ever heard. It's one of the few songs with which I'm familiar that I would actually use the word "pretty" in describing. And believe it or not, this is coming from a guy who still mostly listens to harder rock music, which this album definitely is not. But I suggest you do listen to the entire album-- especially the first four songs of the album which precede "Forever and a Day"-- because the song actually seems even more enjoyable that way. Overall, although a little weaker in the last few songs, it's a great album that paves the way for the next Silverchair album "Young Modern", which I'm extremely infatuated with at the moment.Young ModernFree Music Review: Split down the middle
Hit: 3 Stars
Though not a bad album, it just really doesn't do alot for me. I Fricking love Diorama & Young Modern. (I know, ...it's not a silverchair album) I just don't know what they were going for on this album. Don't get me wrong, like I said their are some decent grooves on these tracks, and Track 4 is indescribably calming and just puts your mind in total ease. But all in all, the album is overproduced, to much tecno beats, and just not memorable. If you can pick it up dirt cheap, take a chance, if it's over 6-7 bucks pass until it becomes dirt cheap.
2.5 stars
Free Music Review: The Dissociatives Not-Quite-Perfect Transitional Record, and Not Just For Young Moderns
Hit: 4 Stars
With a reunited, confident and revitalized Silverchair having unleashed yesterday the fevered, strident yet bright force of nature that is "Straight Lines" (merely the fifth of five stellar singles - the others, "Across The Night", "Luv Your Life","Somewhere Down The Barrel" and "Young Man, Old Man....." - from the distinctive pen of Daniel Johns, in fact five of this young century's finest) and its accompanying video to chairpage - the band's website, it's instructive to revisit The Dissociatives, Johns' project with friend Paul Mac, Danger Mouse to Daniel's Cee-Lo in a sense. "Straight Lines" is an audacious further step in Silverchair's evolution, seen largely through the eyes and epiphanic experiences of Johns that are ably supported by bassist Chris Joannou and drummer Ben Gillies, but his collaboration with Mac was an important proving ground for the new (somewhat streamlined?) model, preparing more receptive 'Chair fans for the forthcoming effort Young Modern and what will likely be a considerable change in musical direction.
The duo's eponymous debut and only studio release to date mostly eschews the carbon-steel, occasionally atonal rhythm guitar slabs that have been for so long Silverchair's stock-in-trade but the band itself really began to move away from on Diorama, its justly-lauded last album, to arrive at something both graceful and grand, less bombastic. Like the late virtuoso Jeff Buckley, Johns isn't given to indulging in intricate solos - changes in texture and instrumental focus are merely used as dynamic accents to powerfully punctuate songs - and has become far better at his songcraft as a result, nominally mentored by arranger extraordinaire Van Dyke Parks of Smile fame. Their favored source for inspiration is late Seventies and early Eighties progressive pop from artists such as the Electric Light Orchestra (evidenced most thoroughly in leadoff single "Somewhere Down The Barrel") Supertramp (second single "Young Man, Old Man....." is heavily evocative of Breakfast In America and The Wall) as well as Split Enz, Tears For Fears (a shiver-inducing but gently strummed, intermittent single note not so immediately calls to mind "Pale Shelter") and Drama-era Yes.
But Dissociatives production values are still very much associated with the present; generous sprinkles, patinas and washes of clearly modern electronic tones color their soundscapes throughout. This approach makes the truly haunting Beach Boys and Radiohead echoes of first track "We're Much Preferred Customers" seem entirely logical, a more fully realized blend (similarly used to outstanding effect on "Straight Lines") than the tenuous suspension one might expect with such an attempt, and it's primarily the 26-year-old Johns that makes it work so effortlessly, with an at-once ethereal and soulful, even bluesy, voice, not unlike Buckley's lower register, Sting at his most forceful (again, most noticeably on Young Modern's infectious lead single) and, believe it or not, Terence Trent D'Arby in places. As Daniel says in a Dissociatives promotional interview, the prevailing mood is refreshingly whimsical - and with a touch of melancholy, as Mac is quick to add - especially felt in "Forever And A Day", a lonesome rhumba, and closer "Sleep Well Tonight".
While it would be slightly premature to judge Young Modern solely upon "Straight Lines", it couldn't be a more effective clarion call to inform the world that Australia's apparent favorite sons are back and they are continuing to evolve - dramatically so. It's also worth remembering that, five years ago, Daniel Johns was so crippled by degenerative arthritis he could barely be out of bed, let alone play guitar or tour, for extended periods of time. "Straight Lines" is assuredly a multi-format Top Ten smash if a savvier Stateside label can make amends for truly egregious lapses in Diorama-related marketing decisions. I haven't been able to stop playing the kinetic clip for this song (and cautionary tale, perhaps) of resurrection, and oh how I want to sing it along with the band soon. Daniel, Ben, Chris - that world may be yours if you want it. WE ARE READY.
Free Music Review: Refreshing and original
Hit: 4 Stars
Purchased the c.d. after seeing them perform live on "On Demand". I was really impressed with their live performance. The disc doesn't have quite the punch as the live renditions but it's equally great. I will definitely be buying their live d.v.d. Hopefully we'll see a second album from them.