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Rockethouse

Weapons Of Mass Distortion
2005
Kanine

Rockethouse - Weapons Of Mass Distortion (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Jesse
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Published on June 14th 2005

What do you get when you mix snotty, trashy attempts at sounding like Primal Scream with huge reverb thrown on the vocals and the guitars? A bland throwaway release from another New York hipster group.

Rockethouse's blend of *ahem* "rock'n'roll" (snicker) with "electronica" is nothing to lose your shit over. Though the opener "Temporary Glitch" sounds like an exact replica of Primal Scream, the follower "CB" is nothing more than a standard, shitty attempt to "rock out." The down-tempo "Doomsville" after that is laughably bad, and not just for the title of the song. "Lock And Load" sounds like a weak Killers B-side, while "My Clock" and "Pedestal" sounds like dime-a-dozen "edgy" "indie" bands on a major label. The album finishes out with "Depths," "Retrieve The History," "Killjoy," and "Rockethouse," which all go back to the ripping off Primal Scream formula.

Now, I'm not a huge fan of Primal Scream, but I respect their work. I like it, but I just don't own any yet. But what I do like about Primal Scream is their originality. The sound they created was in no way representative of a standard sound that had surfaced in the mainstream before. Their blend of guitars and dance music beats was fresh, original, and, not to mention, created by seasoned veterans of the musical world (check AllMusic.com if you're interested). So the very thing that I dig about Primal Scream, their originality, is the very thing that makes Rockethouse bland and not very interesting. The fact that they do copy the Primal Scream sound fairly note-by-note makes them seem to me to be nothing more than a regurgitated attempt at mimicking one's own rock heroes.

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 6:43 PM (EDT)
My Score:

This is a very original record, one of the best I've heard all year long.
You review was terrible.
If you're expecting this band to sound like a New York band, well then, you won't like this record. This band sounds like they belong to England.
I've seen these guys live and they blew my head off. If anything, I would compare them to a industrial Bunnymen.
cheers!
robertS

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2005 at 6:41 PM (EDT)

this record is amazing!!
I don't know any band that is hot right now that sounds this original.
come on.. interpol=joy divion/kitchens of distinction...
strokes=tom petty/velvets..
I love the scream, and I got this record because I thought it was better than the scream.
You should own a scream record, and move to NY.
Sounds like you're jealous Jesse.

Posted by Jesse on 2005-06-16 05:42:13

You can whine all you want, but you're just going to find what you want (in this instance, the "lack of musical description") in my reviews. You seem to be the only one who consistently complains.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 at 11:09 PM (EDT)

bob dylan is from new york

Posted by CherryColaRain on 2005-06-15 17:35:22
My Score:

Jesse does lack detail sometimes but they are not horrible reviews. Listen to Primal Scream and you will know what this band sounds like! (for all the people that believe he didn't mention how the band sounds like). I never liked this type of music but I have a word of advice. Don't diss then because they are from New York. New York rocks. This band is just disapointing.

Posted by primeevil7 on 2005-06-15 01:25:15

Again, another edit.

At least he actually gives you an opinion on whether the CD is worth your time or money.

Posted by primeevil7 on 2005-06-15 01:23:26

Dance beats with guitars can mean shitloads of things.

Franz Ferdinand sounds different than Communique who sounds different from the Killers, who sound different from the Rapture...and so on.

All I'm given to go on is dance-rock with guitars, which doesn't mean anything. Not even an mp3.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 at 12:15 AM (EDT)

But you like Hey Mercedes.

-BSD

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 9:50 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Well if they want to sound like Primal Scream, and Primal Scream has dance beats with guitars (or whatever the fuck he said they sound like) then logic would lead us to believe they sound like....?

Finish the sentence!

-!GreenVandal!

Posted by primeevil7 on 2005-06-14 21:34:09
My Score:

You can also tell its a Jesse review, because after reading it, I still don't know what the band sounds like.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 6:23 PM (EDT)
My Score:

You said Primal Scream at least 300 times in that review. In fact, you said it more time then this bands name. Thats kinda awesome actually...

-!GreenVandal!

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 1:28 AM (EDT)

where's the aquabats review?

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