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by james sowa (JimEWrld) - Oct 01, 2007
Downtown Harvest - Golden Dragon Downtown Harvest has pioneered their own genre; they call it "comic-book dance rock." This genre is a mixture several other genres, including hip-hop and a little bit of house. The band features driving bass and synth with guitar riffs that are comparable to very few bands. With so many different styles of music, it is hard to believe the songs have any consistency or flow; upon first listen, it sounds like a mix tape of different styles. Thankfully, this flaw does not detract from the overall likability of the album. "Sinner" is the opening track and sounds similar to an upbeat Eels song. Moore (lead singer) tames his voice to blend in perfectly with the opening riff and the slowly builds up to a climatic shout. "Full Circle" follows, picks up the pace, and is a nice segue into "Man of Mystery," the guitar work of which could be compared to Maroon 5. "Killer Queen Bee" introduces the hip-hop vibe and is reminiscent of early Lucky Boys Confusion, though it is not one of the best tracks. "Something Elephants" makes up for the lull with an amazing bass riff to open the song and a chorus that one could sing along to. It is an excellent track and has a more mainstream vibe to it. "Napier," "Michael Jordan," and "Shrimp Fried" follow and add nothing spectacular, though "Shrimp Fried" is almost completely a hip-hop tune and the best of the three. "Slow Dive" would not be out of place on a Fountains of Wayne album and acts as a nice break. It has pleasant-sounding guitars and vocals that exude the melancholy of the lyrics. "Four Hundo" introduces a trombone which is the driving force behind the song. "M.D.K." is a filler track that contributes very little lyrically but adds a decent musical track. "Clockwork Tangerines" is the final track and the single. With an amazing intro and a laid-back sound to the guitars, this is a dramatic closer. It talks about a broken friendship and features several brief but excellent guitar solos. Moore proclaims over and over: "You broke another / You broke another." Timing in at 5:14, it provides a melancholy conclusion to a very good album. The overall tracks of note are: "Sinner," "Full Circle," "Something Elephants," "Slow Dive," and "Clockwork Tangerines." This album has several different genres blended in the same pot but leaves a listener wanting more. While it is not completely stellar, it is an excellent sophomore release for these Philadelphia rockers. |