Labels: Deep Elm
Review by: Russell Opie
Well if a band was ever trying to look emo then Pop Unknown have certainly achieved that look with the packaging. The epitome of the stereotypical emo-album. I was really impressed with their debut EP and so I had high expections for the album. And I haven’t been completely disappointed. But not completely satisfied either. I think the slight change in sound probably has something to do with it. Basically this album is a lot less rock than the EP and a lot less poppy as well.
Onto the songs then – first track “head in the sand” is a great opener, and probably the best song on here. Catchy emo-pop-rock song. Stereotypical Pop Unknown really. Unfortunately (for me) about half of the songs come across as sounding a lot more mellow. Which I can dig if I’m in the mood. I suppose you could say this band sound a lot like Mineral *but* good! I never did “get” Mineral though. Mellow indie numbers would include: “an offering” and “lonely here with me”. Good songs, but I wish they’d rock it a bit more like they did on the EP.
Even more upsetting is the fact that they don’t print the lyrics in the inlay. Now I really don’t understand this. And Deep Elm seem consistently bad at being able to supply the lyrics to their records. I just don’t get it. I’m sure I could enjoy the songs so much more if I had the words to peruse at my leisure. Deep Elm, please take note.
Oh and the last song is aweful. A five minute wishy washy instrumental that just doesn’t do anything at all. I hate instrumentals and putting this as a filler on the end was pointless. I would rather 10 proper songs than having a silly instrumental “pretend” song at the end to make it look like the album has 11 tracks. Deep Elm, please take note (again).
Having said all of this I do still very much enjoy this album. And as I listen to the heart-wrenching emotional rendition of “hanging on a thread” and the mellow pop tunes of “tatoo your image on the world”, I begin to remember why I really do love Pop Unknown, despite the flaws of this album.
End of term report – had potential to do better. a good effort nonetheless.