soulbelly
simple.chaotic
© 2000 soulbelly (650687051224)
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Energetic, hook-laden female-fronted pop-alternative-ethereal-rock band from Los Angeles, California.
tracks
- 1 Imitating Life
- 2 Windowseat
- 3 Tomorrow Looks Like Yesterday
- 4 The I Miss You Song
- 5 She's a Weirdo
- 6 Must Be Dumb
- 7 Silver 1
- 8 Ten Feet Tall and Bulletproof
- 9 Eggshells
- 10 Sophia's World
- 11 Dandelion
- 12 Radio
- 13 Futura
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'I am older and / I'm just a little wiser than / my predecessor's been / the me I was won't be back again / sometimes it seems to be / people are so mean to me /
I guess I expect nothing less' begins the alt-rock of 'Imitating Life', as pitched by lead vocalist Amy Cole.
She has problems with the logistics and logical thinking of life, and considers the mic the only psychologist with sense enough to listen and shut up.
There is attitude here, and it says, 'What right do YOU have to tell ME what to do?' Of course, the pop Life has a fun beat and is dominantly cheerful enough to make you just want to dance.
Then there are the bass beats of songs like 'Windowseat' that remind you of 10,000 Maniacs looking for a pimp walking down the sidewalk. 'I'll drink my coffee alone thanks / I'll take it for the road / where I don't have to talk or smile or listen / to your empty words'. Simple guitar lick lets you listen to the growing, whining chorus of whole notes. 'sorry, no time today / sorry, don't ask to see me / to see me'.
But one of the best, loudest trips on the cd goes under the moniker of 'Must Be Dumb'. Bass and drums make it their own until the winding, soft electric guitar paves the way for a louder version of itself. 'I see myself in doorways / I see myself in light / sometimes I see myself / and I'm so unsatisfied / should I wrap myself in daffodils / should I buy myself some new shoes / oh I must have been so stupid / who was I trying to fool.' At times the guitars fool you by shutting down completely for a second, just long enough to get you used to the silence, only to be shunned into the loudness that creeps in all too often around here. This is how alt-rock should be. Completely accessible stuff. - BEN OHMART
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INDIE-MUSIC.COM
Intro/general thoughts: Imagine Natalie Merchant singing lead for No Doubt. Imagine a band that's not afraid to try anything, sounding frenzied in some places and hypnotic in others. Imagine a pure, clear voice blended with radio static. Simple and chaotic. Soulbelly picked a perfect title for this CD.
This band works so well together. Bassist Shane Mills and drummer Nick Amoroso take the lead in some of the tracks. Guitarist Phil Montfort punctuates the dance pop of "Eggshells" with hard rock riffs and gives his guitar a dreamy, underwater sound in "Dandelion." Vocalist Amy Cole has a beautiful, mesmerizing voice. I love how she stretches and bends her voice on "Silver 1," fading in and out. These songs are full of musical and lyrical contradictions that somehow make sense. I really like this CD.
Type of Music: Pop/Rock
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Highs: "Must Be Dumb" is my favorite.
Musically, the simple bass and percussion stand out during the verses and the guitar takes over in the chorus. I like that musical reverse. The lyrics sound like a teenager struggling with her self-esteem and body image:
"I look through a magazine that's full of crap, but it's crap I want to be.... I'm so sick, so sick of being the same old me, I must have been so stupid to think I could be anything perceived as cool in this old world."
I can actually hear a teenage girl's voice speaking those words as Cole sings them. It feels very real.
Favorite Lines: The lyrics are vaguely sad but beautiful for the most part, evoking feelings of isolation amidst beautiful imagery. In "Sophia's World," the title character "nurtures peace one drop at a time." In "Dandelion," we see a "burning shadow under a tangerine breeze."
Fans: If you like music that makes you think, this is for you.
Foes: If you're sick of thinking and just want to annoy the neighbors, I think Marilyn Manson is working on a new album.
Summary: Allow me to quote from the band's bio sheet: "Soulbelly is a band of pilgrim dreamers who stir the muses while seeking that holy plateau where sound and movement become one. Theirs is the story of one band, yet the story too of the many masses' hopes that sit in between soundless slumber and restless wake." Yes, I rolled my eyes when I read that. Then I listened to "simple.chaotic," and somehow that didn't sound so pretentious anymore. These songs cast a spell. This is beautiful work. ~ JENNIFER LAYTON
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MUSIC CONNECTION MAGAZINE
There's pure pop energy to burn on this foursome's very polished CD, which we feel has a kind of Go-Go's meets Natalie Merchant quality. Frontwoman Amy Cole fits in nicely, especially on the tune "Imitating Life." This track utilizes a dynamic pause effect, making the record cutting-edge and radio-hot. Soulbelly can change gears, and on the midtempo "Window Seat," show they can maintain our interest without making a lot of noise. Solid and worth a listen.
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CMJ
"Jackpot! Full of soul that speaks to all people. Up-tempo and groovin'... Cole's young but classic sounding voice carries the music's melody that adds intrigue and depth to the lyrics."