Cobra Starship - Nightshades (06/09/2011)
At ten tracks ‘Nightshades’ the 4th album by Cobra Starship packs a short and sweet punch. Considering the band cancelled their Australian tour earlier this year in order to complete this record, the fans should surely be rewarded with the fruits of the band’s labour.
Lead single ‘You Make Me Feel.’ takes the band in a more pop/dance direction with its hooky guitars and layered synths and guest vocals from Sabi. The rising and falling use of synth keys and samplers in ‘Anything For Love’ sounds like something out of the 80’s or perhaps a more recent comparison to New Order. ‘Disaster Boy’ gives band member Victoria Asher a chance to vocally go up against lead vocalist Gabe Saporta and their initial call and response style works well harmonically.
Fourth track ‘Fool Like Me’ which features The Plasticines is the slowest on the record but probably only by half a beat or two. It’s the unpredictable storyline lyrics in the verses that are the winner in this song though.’I’m sorry that I hit your dog with my bike, but he’s got 3 legs so he’s going to be just fine’ is one example.
The surprise track on this record for me was ‘#1Nite’ which has a distinct urban or RnB vibe and was produced by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic fame. It has 2011/2012 New Year’s Eve theme song splattered all over the catchy fist-pump inducing chorus. Closer track ‘Shwick’ is an all electro synth punch but the best part of this song is the solo at the end of the track in the dying single minute that brings the record to a close. It is unashamedly kitsch and only a band like this could pull it off well.
Cobra Starship have always been the sort of artists that don’t want their music to be so serious and would prefer to just have a good time. It’s clear from the entire record as a whole this dance-infused alterna-pop-rock is the direction the band is taking us. It’s just a matter of whether as listeners we’re happy to tag along for the ride.
Carina Nilma
Lead single ‘You Make Me Feel.’ takes the band in a more pop/dance direction with its hooky guitars and layered synths and guest vocals from Sabi. The rising and falling use of synth keys and samplers in ‘Anything For Love’ sounds like something out of the 80’s or perhaps a more recent comparison to New Order. ‘Disaster Boy’ gives band member Victoria Asher a chance to vocally go up against lead vocalist Gabe Saporta and their initial call and response style works well harmonically.
Fourth track ‘Fool Like Me’ which features The Plasticines is the slowest on the record but probably only by half a beat or two. It’s the unpredictable storyline lyrics in the verses that are the winner in this song though.’I’m sorry that I hit your dog with my bike, but he’s got 3 legs so he’s going to be just fine’ is one example.
The surprise track on this record for me was ‘#1Nite’ which has a distinct urban or RnB vibe and was produced by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic fame. It has 2011/2012 New Year’s Eve theme song splattered all over the catchy fist-pump inducing chorus. Closer track ‘Shwick’ is an all electro synth punch but the best part of this song is the solo at the end of the track in the dying single minute that brings the record to a close. It is unashamedly kitsch and only a band like this could pull it off well.
Cobra Starship have always been the sort of artists that don’t want their music to be so serious and would prefer to just have a good time. It’s clear from the entire record as a whole this dance-infused alterna-pop-rock is the direction the band is taking us. It’s just a matter of whether as listeners we’re happy to tag along for the ride.
Carina Nilma