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Unified Theory...
Stringtheory
Spin
(Independent)
by Paul Wenzel
Albert Einstein, one of
the most brilliant and legendary thinkers and physicists in
history, died with only one regret- that he failed to come
up with a Grand Unified Theory or a Theory of Everything-
one single formula that could unite all forces in the physical
world. Finally, in the 1970s, a collection of physicists advanced
what is now known as String Theory, the first legitimate attempt
to unify all matter and energy in one theory by reformulating
the most fundamental building blocks in the universe.
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Thirty Years Later the Boston-based quartet Stringtheory
try to unify music in much the same way, taking many diverse elements
and trying to assimilate them into one cohesive album. Take the
falsetto, vibrato, and guitar work of Jeff Buckley, mix the melodies
of Silverchair, and the floaty airs and interplay of U2 and you
can sum up Spin, the most recent album by Stringtheory.
When examining at this album, you can look at three very distinct
tracts- the songs, the production, and the lyrics.
The songs are very easily the highlight of this album.
The melodies are all utterly singable and will find themselves lodged
in your head, being sung over and over again throughout the day.
The instrumentation is written very well, combining the rhythm and
lead guitar lines with complex drum beats and walking basslines
in one fine patchwork that always works to accentuate the vocals.
The one complaint I would advance is that a majority of the album
sounds the same- they always seem to default on keys, patterns,
and guitar arpeggios. After getting past the first album track,
“Fortune Teller”, a rocker, the rest of the album falls
into a steady, light bout of yawn-inducing complacency . I found
myself wanting more diversity, and a rocking reprise when all was
said and done, though i did appreciate the reggae break of “Love
Is Mean”
String Theory Is:
Rob, Adrian, Costa & Ryan (Left to Right) |
The lyrics of the album,
while occasionally insightful and impressive, have a tendency
to become hackneyed and mundane. Some lyrics, like the final
track, “What Will Follow”'s, “all my regrets
wish they could fly out of my head, out of my way” are
wonderful examples of problems we all face. Some lyrics, like
this selection from “Fortune Teller,” “i
don't hate Egyptian cuisine, i just like to know where the
hell you're from and a burger with cheese.” are master
strokes of imagery. But, for those positives, there are also
negatives, like the trite “Love Is Mean,” which
bemoans “Love is hand-me-downs,” and other love-based
cliches that, when strung together (pun), don't really tell
a cohesive story. Altogether, although the lyrics can be hit
or miss, they are mostly insightful and paint worthwhile pictures.
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The production, if anything, brings down the album. The omnipresent
fuzz of the guitars on “Fortune Teller” ring too heavy,
and bring down what could be a true winner. If they added heavy
metal distortion somewhere else on the album, it may be a different
story. Also, there are random electronic drum loops that bring
down spectacular drum work, are inserted somewhat randomly, and
stick out like a sore thumb. Good songs like “Somewhre Inside”
are really brought down by this clutter, and should have definitely
been made simpler- proving the lesson that, sometimes, you detract
by addition.
All in all, I thought this was a good album. It didn't blow me
away, and it took a couple listens before the songs grew on me.
While this release won't be the strongest in their lives, stringtheory
has surely laid the ground work for what could be a solid musical
career and, if they keep at it, they will surely make a big name
for themselves.
You
Dig, You'll Dig:
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Live-
Awake (Greatest Hits) |
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Maroon 5-
1.22.03 Acoustic (Live) |
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U2- How To Dismantle
An Atomic Bomb |
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Train-
Alive At Last (Live) |
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Maroon 5-
Songs About Jane |
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From Amazon.com |
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