Not Quite Pulp (Rialto - Rialto)

Name: yhwman

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Product:	Rialto - Rialto
Date:	20/08/01 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lucky Number

Disadvantages: The rest

The self titled Rialto, or not quite Pulp (NQP for short) as I may be referring to them on a regular basis, album is the latest album I’ve been challenged to review (Again by Excelle). Have to say, I’m not looking forward to this as much as the previous album as after my initial listen everything seems to sound the same to me. It’s all very much in the bleak sounding story sound of Pulp, only much less interesting. Oh well, here I go anyway – wish me luck!


* Monday Morning 5:19 *

This, as far as I know, is the only Rialto song I’ve heard before. I have to say, it’s not overly bad – but that’s mainly because it’s very Pulpish in style. Guitars synths and drums merge into the dark pop style that dominates the album. There’s a nice dramatic section about three minutes in which helps break it up. This song is on the same level as some of Pulps average work.


* Dream Another Dream *

And it all goes wrong on this track. Opening with “na na na” vocals but the song, like so many, just degenerates into a rather formulaic dark pop. It’s not as bad as some, the dreamy backing vocals do help lift it, but I can’t help wanting to listen to some Pulp instead of this song.


* Broken Barbie Doll *

Opening with music box sounds before gaining pace into a song that sounds, well, quite like Pulp’s more rocky moments, only Louis Eliot can’t touch Jarvis Cocker, sorry Louis! After the intro’s promise the song again just goes into a dark pop 101 piece of coursework. There are a few reprises of the intro, but it doesn’t lift the song.


* Summer’s Over *

Yet AGAIN it’s NQP style music. This is a slow jangle guitar track but apart from that I really can’t find anything unique to say about it.


* Untouchable *

They mention this song being on the album on a sti
cker, so I’m hoping we’ll see an upturn in quality. We can only hope… Well, first impressions aren’t to bad. Like Monday Morning it’s very Pulpish but not to bad. But it never really progresses much. Just below average Pulp quality.


* Hard Candy *

This track doesn’t sound overly like Pulp! It’s almost Rock and Roll, you could imagine it being played a highway café in America during the fifties. Full marks for trying something different but I still find it dull!


* Quarantine *

Again, not overly like Pulp. A harpsichord riff that sounds a bit like Imagine opens it up and soon the song proper plods along. Roomy guitar and leaden drums are a strange combination that, at least to my ears, doesn’t sit overly well. Again, a bit dull.


* Lucky Number *

Hey, this sounds good! Mock horror rock almost in the Secret Chiefs 3 style starts the track off. Then it’s more roomy guitar, while high pitched bursts of string add extra interest to an already pretty good verse, but the chorus is just dull in comparison. Best song on the album so far, even if perhaps it’s just for reminding me of the excellent SC3! No, seriously though – the verse’s are good on this.


* Love Like Semtex *

Full marks for title, but what about the music? A slow start leads into what you think will be a marching drumbeat, only for it to all go mildly SC3ish again with a mock horror rock ballad sound, if there is such a thing! A few good moments but it plods a bit to much for me.


* When We’re Together *

Again, a slight American fifties vibe to the swinging beat of this song. There’s a few nice touches, staccato strings particularly. But over all it’s still a bit dull though I’m afraid. Dull CD’s make dull reviews perhaps? :)


* The Underdogs *

Twin Peaks guitar starts the song
off, so that’s a promising touch but AGAIN the song tends towards Pulp (Early this time) but doesn’t do a very good job of it. Mind you, nor did Pulp in the early days! It’s a gentle ballad, not especially bad but not overly memorable either.


* Milk of Amnesia *

Good title again, but dodgy lyrics start the song off “Milk of Amnesia, you make it easi-er” groan! Slow plodding ballad again, but it’s not Pulpish. Never goes anywhere worth the effort, so a suitable way to end the album really!



So, in the final judgement – which songs am I going to record before handing this album back? Well, only Lucky Number I’m afraid. The rest are pretty much forgettable – go listen to His ‘n’ Hers or Different Class instead!

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