BOAT- Soul Thrash Train (1999)

This is a very interesting album, not only that, but this is a band from Japan that I can't really seem to find any bio on.  I have looked online, went through many different links, and even had Firefox translate Japanese pages for me, all to little avail.  Now, I have found pages that list this album, and others that they have their discography, but I can't seem to find any info. on the band itself, that's why you will see very few, if any, links in this post, regarding the band itself.  (So if you read this, please post a link if you find any background info.)

Boat is from Japan, sings in Japanese, and that's pretty much all I know at this time.  Like my usual precursor, I have no idea how I stumbled across these guys, more than likely, and I'm 100% sure this is how it went, I was browsing different users' files on Soulseek and decided to go ahead and try it.  I pride myself in being able to describe what genre(s) a band falls into, for the most part, but for some reason BOAT just seems to escape labeling.  But let me try nonetheless:  Imagine a poppy Japanese band, with the usual shoegaze style female vocals, playing standard Japanese Pop music, then completely switch that up, for every single track; seriously every track!  Every track, out of the 13, are pretty different from the rest; the style changes, the tempo/timing changes, the vocals change, pretty much everything is different, as you go from song to song on the 35+ minutes this release has.  (pop, punk, rock, experimental rock, noise rock, etc.)  I really want to find out more about these guys, and I have plans on getting their other 4 releases to see what they are like as well. 

After reading through this, I feel like my review of this band/album is lacking quite a bit, but this is one of those, and I know I've said this before, bands that you have to check out for yourself.  I really enjoy music, and when you mix in music form other cultures that switches things up so drastically, it's usually a hit with me.  Depending on where you live, you might be able to find this in a store, but more than likely you'll need to look online or download it, if you want to check them out; which you should. 

Official score- 3.75/5

Apoptygma Berzerk- Rocket Science (2009)

I have said many times throughout my posts that I will get an album to check out based on some retarded reason: name, cover art, if their foreign, etc.  Well Apoptygma Berzerk is one of those bands that, after listening to them, I was more or less "Aww, whatever"; then I looked on their site, and based on the fact that they look like modern day emo bafoons, I'm gonna say "I don't really care for them".  (I base this on very loose logic- I came across them and decided to check them out based on their name, which is not any way to really go about these things, and was pretty wishy-washy with their music, then I see a picture of them and since they look idiotic, I now pronounce them, subjectively, lame. See what I was saying?- loose logic.)  Now on to the review.........

Rocket Science seems to be these guys' 6 album, and honestly, 6th?  Anyhow, this album consists of 14 elecro/pop/synth pop type tracks.  At nearly an hour long, the album feels a little drawn out.  Here's why: 1. synthy type releases, that are instrumental, really need to have some hooks or something to keep it interesting- this did not; 2. I have heard synth releases from decades ago, that were the same quality, but due to their release date, hold a way higher interest; 3. the tracks aren't too complicated and seem like they are meant to be just a synth style soundscape; and 4. now that I've seen photos, they wear freakin' eyeliner, which I'm not opposed to if you rock, but if your lame, well..... then your lame factor is increased exponentially.   So, there it is, take it for what it's worth.  I was not impressed, and honestly as soon as I'm done with this review I am going to remove from my MP3 player. 

If you're into synth pop or elecro soundscapes, then go ahead and get this; but, if you are an avid music fan, you'll see the flaws with this release.

Official score-1.75/5