Ungdomskulen: Cry Baby
Monday, 08 Oct 2007 12:49
Uninspired Norwegian prog-punk
Ever Records, October 8th.
In a nutshell…
Derivative sprawling prog-punk
What's it all about?
Debut album from boy group who have been compared to Dischord pioneers Fugazi. If you think that sounds intriguing, think again – it's standard fare, with big riffs, pliant drums, driving bass and emotive boy vocals. Think bedroom teens deciding they're ready for mature music and digging out the bedroom teen version of Q magazine to find out what that is. Think false falsetto screaming over sprawling structures. It's like a relatively lo-fi Muse, with dancey the Rapture leanings. After a series of UK shows with the Young Knives, Ungdomskulen are aspiring to their tourmates' quirky crossover status.
Who's it by?
Three blokes from Norway called Frode Flatland, Kristian Stockhaus and Øyvind Solheim. Ungdomskulen - Norwegian for middle school, fact fans – were formed in 2002 when the former school friends decided to translate their love for life into a love for music. Initial names included Standing Ovation and Goddamnit. A quick Google search and they seem pretty loved out there – the critics dig their post-punk leanings, their rock sensibilities, their weird name and their Nordic origins.
As an example…
"I'm not an Ordinary Son. I'm not an Ordinary Son." - Ordinary Son. Oddly enough.
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Slim. Though online hipster bible Pitchfork likes their vibe so it could happen.
What the others say
"Practice makes perfect for this band of unashamed musical perfectionists who produce a bass dominated sound with syncopated beats and spiky but harmonic guitar." Subba-Cultcha
"I think this is the sort of band that I might have liked when I was 16." Rant Magazine
So is it any good?
Rock bands made up of three boys with bass, guitar and drums should have to work so hard to prove themselves, but the most tired format in the world still makes critics and the key demographic drool like dogs and anything with slightly longer-than-average tracks gets pegged as experimental.
Enough soapboxing already– this album's just not all that good. The noodling is irritating, like an intensely dislikeable person who won't. Stop. Talking. The riffs sound like the most boring mixtape you never let your 13-year-old's brother make. Grinding bass and sex-u-al lyrics are about as transgressive as my foot. It's not all bad, but the good bits are recycled – the clean, catchy At The Drive In-esque Glory Hole might be nice if I hadn't heard it before.
It's not cynical. I don't think Ungdomskulen have been fabricated by a man with a shiny head and a suit jacket and skater shorts with brand new Converse (this is what record industry bigwigs look like, no?) It's just derivative, like Rage Against the Machine and Queens of the Stone Age date raping your CD player for the 17th time, then citing hip influences to woo the jury.
3.5/10
Sophie Jones
"God bless Ungdomskulen. Finally we can listen to some music for god's sake! The english wannabe rock bands all sound the same. We need some help from the outer world; we get it, we can finally begin to listen to some music again!!! So pleeease don't use your jelaousy on the wrong lads, girl. We love you Ungdomskulen and you have saved our lives!!!" - 'Mistah D Raw'
"Sophie, a very very lazy review, that in light of general fairness does not deserve a 3.5. You're evidently letting a bad day affect your write up. That review is dripping with vitriol, and I urge any prog fans, or those that adore songs with masses of layers to explore over time, intricate parts and epic qualities to seek out this album - you won't be disappointed. At all.
So nur, Sophie Jones." - Furious of Thamesmead
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