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The Raveonettes
Chain Gang of Love
label: Sony
released: 09.02.03
our score: 4.5 out of 5.0
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Whip It
On may have been the musical equivalent to Gary Coleman when
it comes to size, but it proved The Raveonettes to be probably
the best thing ever imported from Denmark. Just 21 minutes long,
their debut was like their live performances, hitting you hard
with an endless barrage of brilliance and cutting it short to
leave you hungry for more.
At just over
30 minutes long, Chain Gang Of Love is an epic by comparison,
but no less addictive on the ear. Again coming with the quirky
1950s style filmic cover, Chain Gang Of Love is less
intense than Whip It On, instead managing to further
The Raveonettes’ sound and investigate some quieter corners
that were omitted from the debut. The opener, "Remember",
is a real gem, and was pioneered on their Whip It On
tour earlier this year. After a shopkeeper’s ring, "Remember"
relentlessy pounds critics into submission and even has an overtone
of The Cranberries to make things a little weirder.
Thrashing
guitars and beautiful melodies again combine to make "That
Great Love Sound", well, a great sound, and "Noisy Summer"
starts a little like a Californian 60s hit, but ends (thankfully)
with crazy, sexy, intense static. Experimental sounds like this
static and the repetitive beeping on "Love Can Destroy Everything"
might not have been attempted on the guitar dominated Whip
It On but now, having found their feet, ballads can creep
into their sets and stand up well when tested. "Heartbreak
Stroll", "Little Animal" and "New York Was
Great" hark back to the likes of Beat City" and "Cops
On Our Tail" for those who long for more of the good stuff.
The Raveonettes
are a sound to be savoured. Chain Gang Of Love combines
the hectic trademarks of Whip It On with a more mature
and sensitive sound, while never managing to lose the rough edge
that makes them so incredibly attractive.
09-Sep-2003 2:05 PM
If you
liked Chain Gang of Love...
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Tracklist:
1. Remember
2. That Great Love Sound
3. Noisy Summer
4. Love Gang, The
5. Let's Rave On
6. Dirty Eyes (Sex Don't Sell)
7. Love Can Destroy Everything
8. Heartbreak Stroll
9. Little Animal
10. Untamed Girls
11. Chain Gang Of Love
12. Truth About Johnny, The
13. New York Was Great
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