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Ikara Colt

Basic Instructions (2003)
Epitaph Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Jonathan
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on June 3rd 2003

It’s hard for me to even write this after seeing how many people are touting Ikara Colt as some revolutionary breed of “art-punk,” in yet another meaningless sub-categorical classification.

Let me make this easy. As much as I don’t like resorting to “this band sounds like (xxx),” I can’t really figure out any other way to convey this message. Ikara Colt is a poor-man’s Sonic Youth—more electronic but far, far, far less musically interesting.

Epitaph seems to be jumping on this trend of the next breakthrough sound in this (hardly) new era of rock—they got lucky with The Hives—a probable soon to be one-hit-wonder.

Ikara’s Basic Instructions EP sounds exactly like their first full length, Chat and Business. There’s some okay electronic beats, but overall, this band has nothing on Sonic Youth. Listen to “May B 1 Day” or “Panic”, hell any of the five tracks—the source is blatant, embarrassingly so.

There’s really no more needed to describe Ikara Colt. I could go into aurally explaining what’s going on—but your time would be better spent listening to Daydream Nation.

As a Sonic Youth fan, I wasn’t impressed by anything Ikara Colt had to offer on this EP (nor was I impressed by their full length). This is nothing revolutionary. This is nothing new. This art punk thing was nailed by Sonic Youth in the post-punk 80s. I’m just really tired of hearing this buzz, this faux revolutionary hype only to hear a sub par version of a once (or in this case, still) revolutionary band. Is music really this stagnant right now? This is regression, not progression.

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Anonymous (June 9, 2003)

in not sure about your review.. are you talking about Sonic Youth or Ikara Colt??

Anonymous (June 8, 2003)

Also, even though its good the reviewer knew who influenced these guys, what about Pere Ubu, Eno, Wire, and Psychedelic Furs, who influenced Sonic Youth.

Anonymous (June 8, 2003)

Poor man's Sonic Youth?

Indeed.

Better than most of the crap on this site?

Yes.

8 stars for being obnoxiously artsy in the face of adversity.

Anonymous (June 5, 2003)

Big girls need love too dude.

-sickboi

Anonymous (June 5, 2003)

Finally some good fukin music... Ive posted anonymous reviews of armor for cock and senses fail. Im actually kind of shocked that epitaph signed a band that doesnt sound like the ramblings of a retarded third grader set to three chords. These guys are what punk was and should be. This album made me want to dance and break something. I grew up in the nighties so it kind of sucks that real dancing doesnt exist anymore. I wish i could of known the days when going to dance meant shakin your ass to rock and roll and not mimicking doggy-style on some sweaty fat chick. 8. 5 stars

ElVaquero (June 4, 2003)

er... interviews

ElVaquero (June 4, 2003)

alright, i'll send one in this weekend, along with those reviews i promised you what seems like years ago

maverick (June 4, 2003)

No sir... I should've, but I haven't even listened to the copy they sent me yet. Way too bogged down over here.

-Scott

ElVaquero (June 3, 2003)

they're song on punk-o-rama 8 is really really good, can't say the same for the rest of the stuff... scott, has anyone reviewed that comp yet?

Anonymous (June 3, 2003)

i bet the family guy book would be better. plus when the movie comes out, i could finally be the pretentious ass who goes, "eh, the book was better"

Anonymous (June 3, 2003)

FAMILY GUY SHOULD MAKE A MOVIE!!!!

-Bing Crosby

TahoeJeff (June 3, 2003)

these guys dont really impress me at all...I dont know what epitaphs deal is these days. Most of the older bands like Dropkick are still putting out great stuff ( cant wait for the new bouncing souls). But other than MCS none of the new bands are that good. Its like the epitaph roster is going to shit

soulbleed (June 3, 2003)

yea, the comparisons to sonic youth are pretty accurate. this like listening to the faint and then realizing it wasn't every other band you listened to in the 80's.