GUANO APES |
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The skies open up and the first single "Open Your Eyes" comes crashing down in a storm of emotion and electricity and The Guano Apes have arrived! The foursome out of Germany has earned top honors in their homeland and now appears primed and ready to impact the rest of the world. Fully deserving of their recent major label status with their catchy, diverse and oft-moody sound that belies a maturity usually not associated with such "green" acts, Guano Apes have the talent to survive in an age that sees even the best of 'em come and go in an instant. As edgy as a song as "Open Your Eyes" can be at the beginning, just as quickly you'll be swooned with the methodically gentle feel of "Maria" and the majesty of "Rain" which soon should be recognized as their next big hit. Don't fall too complacent however as the "Lords of the Boards" which opens with a misleading Venice-like cello, bombards you senseless with a pounding guitar blast and screaming angst! We can go song for song on down the line to the last nine plus minute "Tribute" and in each case, we'll find something interesting and totally addictive. Out front, Sandra moves from soft to sudden and if there's a comparison to be made with any of the current female vocalists out today, the outrageous Skin from Skunk Anansie comes immediately to mind. The band itself also matches up equally with much the same style and design where both possess a superior quality and broad vision of what they need to take the songs to a higher level. Released By Supersonic. Website: http://www.gun-supersonic.de/supersonic/ Guano Apes Website: http://www.fuego.de/guano/ Review by Vinnie Apicella. |
Don't Give Me NamesGuano Apes |
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"Innocent Greed," mark it, remember it and revert back to it ten years from now because it's one of those type of songs that's a defining moment in a band's career-the one which they'll ultimately be judged long after their gone. Not an outward Pop single candidate by any means, its much too furious for that and there are quite probably several more cuts on the album that'll go further-remember Damn Yankees first record and "High Enough," their first big single, and we all knew how much better "Come Again" was but the public shit-canned it anyway?-but if this one doesn't get your blood pumping right off with its piercing guitar riff, turbulent background melodies and decibel running screams, hit the stop button and take it out because there's nothing left for you. Assuming many reading this haven't as yet purchased Guano Apes' new disc, here's a little rundown. The first obvious comparison to be drawn is one with Skunk Anansie, another female led Heavy Rock/Alternative/Industrialized hybrid with vindictive subject matter and unyielding emotive frequencies. Guano Apes are in very much the same vein and they're equally as good at what they do. Plenty of extracurricular noise and funky back beats supply the large boost of flavor that supports an otherwise loud Rock kick and the fact that the rhythm section's of German heritage is no small matter-they can play and Sandra Nasic can pour out the words with the best of 'em. "The Banshee" as she's known internally, is quite an accurate depiction-as far as the rest go, "The Quiet One," "The Clown," and "The Thinker," I won't comment. They did well on their debut a couple years back, "Proud Like a God," which in itself had its moments-at least 100,000 or so judging by sales in America, and thus they're acceptance by the cutting edge community, an a whopping two million worldwide led by the hit "Open Your Eyes," and "Lords of the Board." Still got a ways to go in the states however-but hooking up with the likes of Sevendust and Creed certainly can't hurt-and so what if they do, they're key element is they write catchy, oft disturbing, occasionally sweet songs that maintain their substance long after the final studio effects have worn off-there's a solidity in their music that defies either categorization or the typically trendy cash-in performance. Each and every song here starts out differently and carries its own identity well-something unheard of with much of today's new artists. As much as Nasic's searing, soothing and sometimes debilitating pitch defines much of their sound, the band as a whole is noticeably present. "Living In A Lie" gives the first chance to lighten up a bit as the token ballad or two which sounds neither sappy nor shy-it works amidst the rest of the tuneful ferocity. "Dodel Up" follows and is the first single and features a fiery anthemic chorus around a subdued tranquility that should prove a success… and if not, its follower "I Want It" has that similar quality that could do the job just as well. Don't get where the cover image falls in with this compu-generated image of an ant, up close and personal enough to shake… hands, and then "Don't Give Me Names…" and well truthfully I wasn't thinking of referring to it as anything else so I guess I'm safe. I like these guys-for the same reason I like Skunk Anansie and really any other bands of today and that's simply that they write solid, interesting, stand alone songs with their own identity built on strength not sales figures. Released by Supersonic Records Website: http://www.gun-supersonic.de/supersonic/ Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] |