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Schatzi

Fifty Reasons To Explode
2002
Mammoth

Schatzi - Fifty Reasons To Explode (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Scott
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Buena Vista Entertainment (Logo)

Published on April 5th 2002

Go up to Weezer, Superdrag, or the Get Up Kids and ask who their influences are: odds are you'll get answers like Cheap Trick, Led Zeppelin, and the Replacements. Go up to Schatzi and ask who their influences are: odds are they'll say Weezer, Superdrag, and the Get Up Kids.

That shouldn't penalize the band any, though. They like what they hear, and, for lack of a better word, imitate it [and it's not like they're the only band]. They do a pretty respectable job of the pop-rock run through a post-grunge filter. The results are somewhat admirable. "Death Of The Alphabet" is the catchiest 2 minutes of music you'll hear this year [plus the song has guest vocals from Adrienne of the Anniversary]. "Sucked Into Something" provides the album with a much needed shot of hard rock, with headache-inducing drum pounding and squealing guitar riffs. "The Spider Smells Disaster" adds a good Superdrag-esque bit of rock to the mix, while "Song For Stephanie" is a slower song with great buildups and impeccable harmonies.

So there's good songs on the album. Why shouldn't you buy it, then? Well, all four of those tracks [plus 4 more not on this album] are available on the "Death Of The Alphabet" EP which was released late last year. The only other noteworthy songs on this CD are "Bionic Waves," a nod to Weezer's "My Name Is Jonas" with it's pulsating 6/8 beat and it's perfect harmonies, and "Gladys," that perfect emo/pop punk song destined for mix tape sucess. The rest of the album remains pretty faceless and lackluster.

If you already own the EP, is it worth the $13.99 to get the full length? Maybe. If you're just starting out with Schatzi, go with the "Death" EP, it's much more enjoyable with less of the filler. I do recommend seeing the band live, however; this material sees a new light when being performed on stage.

MP3
Death Of The Alphabet






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    Posted by digablechild on 2003-02-04 14:59:52
    My Score:

    I picked up this album when it came out and I was very pleased with the outcome. It was perfect and I still enjoy it today. I saw Schatzi play at a very small club in Fredericksburg, VA at Mary Washington College. My friend Dave also got the chance to interview them for www.firesideometer.com and let me tell you, Schatzi are really cool guys. I had a blast sitting with them and listening to thir stories. As for the album, it rocks. However, there is nothing like seeing them live and jamming out.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 9, 2002 at 3:49 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    oh my gosh this was so much better than their e.p. i thought it wasn't gonna be great when i bought it, but i did anyway cause it came with a free t-shirt...but damn this album is esquisit...