The Alarmists | “The Ghost and the Hired Gun”
The Alarmists seem to excel at great intros and beginnings. “Try to Be Kind”, “Nobody Knows You”, and “Light a Smoke” all feature near-brilliant openings, but as the songs transition into the first verses, they seem to lose their chops…It’s as if whatever it is that gave the tunes their power evaporates and is replaced by contemporary pop-rock stupidity. It’s a shame, too, because these guys really have some talent. Check out our live review from last November.
But really, I feel bad ripping these guys, as their popularity exploded well beyond their maturity as songwriters after Minneapolis’ City Pages nespaper did the equivalent of blowing their sexual load all over the band by making them their “Picked to Click” band of 2006. Clearly, this group needs what most bands need – time – in order to hone their craft and excel beyond pop-schtick baloney.
So, while I don’t dig their new stuff, I do think they have a solid beginning going with probably way more press than they deserve, which comes with some great perks but also opens them up to criticism from old hacks like me. I give “The Ghost and the Hired Gun” a generous 2 stars.*
*ADDENDUM (7/22/07) – After reading some of the feedback on this post, I feel that in the interest of full disclosure, I should state for the record that I listened to all of the tracks on the Alarmist’s mySpace page but did not listen to the entire album prior to writing this article. Lunch of Champions did not receive a copy of the album to review, possibly because we “don’t recieve promo copies of discs from bands of this caliber”, as one of our more salty critics would say.
Lunch of Champions is an independently-run music review blog. So, while we don’t have the large budget of other music review blogs, we certainly have heart, and you will NEVER see a review sponsored or influenced by the record industry.
What Lunch of Champions provides is a forum for music lovers like you and me to post our opinions about records and also to receive feedback from readers.
Keep those comments coming!
July 20th, 2007 at 10:04 am
what does the press writing about them have to do with anything? geez, intros to songs good but not the rest? well sir, to each their own… to each. their. own.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:21 am
I agree with you that what the press (or this blog) says really doesn’t matter, except that the very same press clippings you refer to are really what made them popular in the first place. The “Picked to Click” award gave them exposure that most bands can never dream of receiving.
So long as the band continues to tout all sorts of press comments and awards in their press releases and on their websites, I feel it’s fair game to reference them in any articles I publish.
July 21st, 2007 at 11:11 am
you did this review july 12… the record came out july 17.. i doubt lunch of champions receives promo copies of discs from bands of this caliber (tell me if i’m wrong).. i also noticed you only reviewed the songs on the alarmists’ myspace page..
do you see what i’m getting at?
is it really fair to comment on an album when you clearly have not heard it in its entirety? kinda discredits your blog…
July 22nd, 2007 at 5:13 pm
*ADDENDUM (7/22/07) – After reading some of the feedback on this post, I feel that in the interest of full disclosure, I should state for the record that I listened to all of the tracks on the Alarmist’s mySpace page but did not listen to the entire album prior to writing this article. Lunch of Champions did not receive a copy of the album to review, possibly because we “don’t recieve promo copies of discs from bands of this caliber”, as one of our more salty critics would say.
Lunch of Champions is an independently-run music review blog. So, while we don’t have the large budget of other music review blogs, we certainly have heart, and you will NEVER see a review sponsored or influenced by the record industry.
What Lunch of Champions provides is a forum for music lovers like you and me to post our opinions about records and also to receive feedback from readers.
Keep those comments coming!
July 22nd, 2007 at 8:49 pm
ok, well at least you have the decency to admit that you gave ghost a “generous 2 stars” after listening to 4 of the 14 songs. that says a lot.. why would you even pretend you reviewed the RECORD?
i really enjoy ghost and the hired gun as a whole.. its not my favorite record of the year, and doesn’t push new boundaries or anything..but it is enjoyable to listen to, and well done. additionally, i’m from minneapolis and i like when i can be proud of our local bands..
July 24th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
This is a truly pathetic excuse for a “review”. Actual reviewers actually listen to the CD before reviewing it. Since you seem to have some kind of psychic power, I’m wondering if there are any unreleased CD’s that you haven’t actually listened to that you reviewing.
Maybe you could save yourself a lot of time and just listen to one note off a CD and make your mind up on the basis of that.
You get an “F” as a reviewer. Do your damned homework or don’t write.
July 24th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
The peeps is mad with you (I really don’t have anything to say…just wanted to poke my nose around where it doesn’t belong and say hi).
July 25th, 2007 at 7:52 am
Ian,
I don’t believe you are being fair. This review is about the 4 songs found on The Alarmists’ MySpace page. I make no secret of that fact, and I went to lengths to make that clear. Those 4 songs ARE on The Alarmists’ new album and for better or worse reflect on the quality of that album as a whole. I would be happy to review the album in its entirety, however I’m not going to shell out $15 at the Electric Fetus to listen to an album I’m already not fond of.
Regarding your comment about reviewers, I could lecture you for hours about the ridiculousness of mainstream reviewers, from which The Alarmists have benefited greatly, and these mainstream reviewers’ propensity to turn press releases into fluff pieces for bands. …but I won’t.
Instead, I’ll close by echoing what I already said about Lunch of Champions:
“What Lunch of Champions provides is a forum for music lovers like you and me to post our opinions about records and also to receive feedback from readers.”
I am sincerely glad that you have found a forum here at Lunch of Champions to express your opinion, which is really what this blog is all about.
Keep on reading, writing, and participating!
July 25th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
The album is meant to be listened to as a whole, you clearly have no context to the album’s scope… but that has already been said. Now, with that said… honing their craft and pop-baloney? Are you F’in kidding me? Where… oh wait you haven’t heard the whole record… do you get off saying there is no craft involved. They recorded this album ALONE in their own studio and it sounds just as good as anything a major label has put out EVER. Don’t go talking about craft and pop-baloney without full context… it discredits an otherwise good writer like yourself
July 27th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Did it ever occur to you that perhaps ‘mainstream reviewers’ become so by having integrity and honest approaches to their work? And that it may be possible that they genuinely enjoy the work of The Alarmists? And also, that The Alarmists may use press quotes on their websites because as a local band it’s about all they have to use? Perhaps before you focus your cynicism of local popularity you should consider the fact that bands like The Alarmists actually deserve the type of press they receive. Oh, and also, LISTEN TO THE WHOLE RECORD. If you needed a copy to review, why not contact the band and ask for one?
July 28th, 2007 at 5:12 am
Leave this reviewer alone! You all are talking about integrity and honesty and what-not, but he did let you all know exactly what he was reviewing. Did you even READ the friggin article??? Just because you don’t agree with what he’s saying about the record doesn’t give you the right to go and accuse him of being dishonest.
I love the Alarmists, too, but all these commenters are are making me sick! As a fan of the band, I’m embarrassed to be associated with these people.
Keep up the great work at this blog!