Recover

Recover: Ceci N'est Pas RecoverCeci N'est Pas Recover (2002)
Fiddler Records

Reviewer Rating: 2.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: AubinAubin
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on August 13th 2002I'm going to admit something that's likely to earn me the scorn of a lot of people: I'm not that fond of Recover. I reviewed their last record, and as a technical achievement, it had all the makings of an amazing record. Their mixture of post-punk, hardcore and pop really could have been something;.

I'm going to admit something that's likely to earn me the scorn of a lot of people: I'm not that fond of Recover. I reviewed their last record, and as a technical achievement, it had all the makings of an amazing record. Their mixture of post-punk, hardcore and pop really could have been something; and the music reviewer-type in me could appreciate it on that level. But unfortunately, their debut, and this record Ceci N'Est Pas Recover, never grabbed me.

I mean, that's the core of what I love about punk. A lot of bands that I love don't have all the chops, or even the originality. But they grab you. And Recover just fails to do that. I have a pretty simple test, that I think a lot of reviewers don't use; I listen to the record a couple of times, and then, if I like it, I'll have no trouble putting it on without trying to be "disciplined reviewer guy." In this case, I didn't feel the urge to put it on again. There was no particular song, or part of a song that stuck with me.

In this case, I listened to Ceci N'Est Pas Recover a couple of times, giving it an honest chance. It's a definite maturing from their last one; tighter, and more confident while not abandoning the influences that made their last record so popular. But all in all, there wasn't any passion. I don't know if the passion was missing from the band, or from me, but it just didn't work on that level.

It's like the band is too aware of how they've gotten all the details right that they've missed the point of making music to reach people. It's like an academic exercise; too self-aware.

I still maintain that Recover has the chops to make an incredible, moving record, but this just isn't it.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (March 9, 2006)

that being said, this ep is all killer no filler, and inhale water is one of the best tunes of the new millenium

Anonymous (March 9, 2006)

to the people that say thrice>>>>>>>>recover, thats bullshit, because i like thrice and all, but if anything they sound like thursday, vocally, and recover doesn't sound like anyone else...but i gotta agree thrice = 80s metal

Anonymous (May 26, 2004)

this record shows how a band who can put out such a technical album as rodeo and picaso can still throw you a few songs with a great pop apeal without selling oput or being pussies

funkisdead (September 12, 2003)

hmmm
i think that this band should get the "worst cover art" award for this year.

Anonymous (March 18, 2003)

they're better live, thats for sure. the opening song is shit. but the last song inhale water was good. dan's a fucking joke.

Anonymous (November 13, 2002)

this cd was alright, they sound better live. the best songs on the album were my only cure and inhale water

Anonymous (August 29, 2002)

this is possibly the worst review ever. nothing about the cd, not even a track listing. if you dont like the album, at least give the basic requirements for a fucking review.

Anonymous (August 19, 2002)

groups.yahoo.com/group/killrecover/ click this link and sign up to join the official Recover yahoo group. Check the band out when they hit the U.S with TAKING BACK SUNDAY, and MIDTOWN this fall. info @ www.killrecover.com

Anonymous (August 19, 2002)

You guys need to appreciate every bands differences. Who gives a shit if Recover doesnt sounds exactly like Thrice, or doesnt compare to Thursday or whoever. All bands are different and have their own orginal qualities, it seems like you guys need to stop being so concerned with which band stands above the rest. This isnt a freakin' contest. Grow up. I appreciate Recover because they write good rock songs, plain and simple. Rock on Recover.

Anonymous (August 17, 2002)

worst review ever. how am i supposed to know whats good or bad about just because it didn't catch you? what a horrible review.

Sonikthehedgehog (August 17, 2002)

I've heard this cd and I wasn't exactly too impressed. I've also seen them live and I sat there not
doing a thing because they didn't put enough energy into it to get me up and moshing for a band
I don't know. But when Recover started playing I had the biggest urge to go play Galaga and I
did. I at least thank them for that I forgot how much fun that game was. To all those people who
say Recover are one of the most overrated bands take a look at Poison The Well They are pure
shit. I was more into Recover when I saw them then I was into Poison The Well when I saw
them. Anyways there's my two cents.

Anonymous (August 16, 2002)

black brown black brown. nice jackets boys

Anonymous (August 16, 2002)

First of all Wyzo, comparing Recover to Thrice and Poison the Well is a joke. They have less than half of the song-writing talent that Thrice has and their live shows look contrived next to either band. I saw Recover and Thrice on tour together and it wasnt even a close race. Can Recover write lyrics like Thrice? Hell no. Can Recover write melodies like Thrice? Nope. Can Recover sing like Thrice? Not close. Can recover play their instruments like Thrice? Still no contest. Can Recover deliver live like Thrice can? Again, no. Yes, I am biased because Thrice is my favorite band, but no more biased than you may be. If you break each bands music down by categories, Recover gets destroyed. Put four songs from "The Illusion of Safety" against this EP and you will find it blaringly obvious.

Vien (August 15, 2002)

J'adore ecoute a la Recover. Le musique est tres bon!!

Anonymous (August 14, 2002)

I've only heard recover like 4 times and it wasn't bad. But I saw them in Chicago recently and it was insanity and it really blew me away.

fat_city_magazine (August 14, 2002)

"a poor mans thrice is called 80's hair metal" -- funniest thing I've read all week!

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

This EP is good as hell. Recover is one of the top bands playing emo-hardcore right now. I just saw em last week at the Warped Tour in Philly and they absolutely destroyed on stage. A great live band and a damn good one recorded as well.
-andrew.

wyzo (August 13, 2002)

recover will end you.

Their not a poor mans thrice, or poison the well because a poor mans thrice is called 80's hair metal. Could we fit anymore lame metal riffs into a song?

When recover gets poppy they dont get whiny, and when they get aggressive they don't resort to chuggas or bad lead guitar solos.

Thrice keeps telling me they want to write the perfect song, and play it just for me, but "Sitting on the dock of the bay" has already be written, and their no Big O.

wyzo

travis (August 13, 2002)

i found this cd to be a step back from their last rodeo and picasso. Their last cd was one of my favorites from last year, and this just seems to have lost the edge that made them really special. Its not bad, its just not as eye catching as say a song like rodeo.

but I will have to agree with the other people that have commented. The real draw from recover is their live show. oh wow it is amazing.

THAT_GUY (August 13, 2002)

Their CDs aren't what people are buzzing about,it's their live show.Yes,I think that their CDs are good,but their live show is INCREDIBLE.I live in Houston,and while not quite being their home town,we come DAMN CLOSE,they're here all the time,and I have seen them,what ? 6 times ? sounds right,about 6 times.And,after those 6 times,there was only ONE time that they didn't blow me away,when they opened for LTJ and Bad Religion.That was only cause the venue fucked them over,not really their fault.I personally haven't listened to the new Cd,but I don't care what it sounds like on CD,I care what it sounds like LIVE,and i can already tell it's gonna be awesome.Also,if you knew the guys,you'd know,they put a lot of time and effort into making this,it's their baby,so don't be too harsh.

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

Despite the all kids here in Austin, no me gusta Recover.

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

i think recover is completely overrated. they can't touch bands like boy sets fire, thrice, poison the well, or thursday. their like a poor mans version of those bands. nothing at all original or moving as aubin said.

seek (August 13, 2002)

I think this band is pretty overrated; it has all been done before, and they don't do it in a way that "grabs you", as Aubin put it.

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

I have yet to hear it, but that's just because I haven't found it anywhere to buy it.

Recover is fucking rad.

-Scotty

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

I second that. This cd is overall so much more tight and grabbing to its listeners i feel. It has a bit more pop here and there, and the guy who usually screams really does some better harmonizing now with the skinny singer guy. It really shows they put a lot into this cd. It shows they have worked at their sound more and just meshed better as a band. The intro to the last song is amazing, the transition from the piano into the heavy hitting drum and guitars is awesome, the lyrics just chill me for some reason, "i still can't decide, if i'm dead or just not alive, i want to keep pretending. . ." And shit, the layout alone is reason enough to love this cd. That thing just kills me. I knew i would love this cd from the moment i opened it up and saw the inside. Truly very wierd and odd, but just makes you interested.

Anonymous (August 13, 2002)

honestly, I found a great improvment in their sound... this EP is amazing. They really dig their sound much more than their first release... rock.