Harmonic Generator (The Datsuns - Datsuns)

Member Name: Kepler

Product:	The Datsuns - Datsuns
Date:	30/01/04 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Catchy tunes, Toe tapping drum beats

Disadvantages: Slightly repetitive

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Introduction
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Hailing from Cambridge, New Zealand The Datsuns are relative unknowns in the world of rock but in my opinion this is soon going to change. The band comprises of five members:

Rudloph De Borst - Vocals/Bass
Christian Livingstone - Guitar
Phillip Buscke - Guitar
Matthew Osment - Drums

The band formed in 1997 under the name Trinket but a year later the band changed their name to The Datsuns and released their first single on their own label. After successful tours around New Zealand and Australia The Datsuns were finally given a recording contract by V2 Records in 2002. In October of the same year the band released their self-titled debut album which I am about to review.

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The Style
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I have heard The Datsuns music associated with many genres and most commonly that of Lo-Fi Garage Rock (whatever that?s supposed to mean), in my opinion their style is just pure unadulterated Rock and roll. The album is a celebration of super fast riffs, chugging rhythms and toe tapping drumbeats and anyone who likes rock music will like The Datsuns. The songs are easy to listen to and don?t take any getting used to, the lyrics may not be awe inspiring but somehow alongside the shamelessly heavy guitars they just work. Now for a blow by blow account of the whole album

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Track by Track
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**Track 1 - Sittin? Pretty**

This song is based on a single central riff around which heavily distorted guitars blast away competing with the incessant drumbeat for the right to pummel your eardrums. The song also features the most blatant example of self-indulgent soloing that I have ever heard. This is a superb opener and sets the tempo for the album perfectly.

**Track 2 - Mother F**ker From Hell**

Another fast track (which is an understatement), the song opens with an incredibly heavy guit
ar riff which again then makes up the main melody (if you can call it that) of the song. The lyrics are a little obvious but set against the angst ridden guitars you?ll soon find yourself singing along.

?There's a girl running around my head
I know she makes me frown
She may be crazy, she maybe not be right
She makes me feel like
Like a motherf**ker from hell?

Screams vocalist Rudloph De Borst and I tend to find myself agreeing with him as I shout along and nod my head in time to the raucous beat. Another great song and hard to find any faults.

**Track 3 - Lady**

Surprise surprise track 3 starts and yes there they are. The heavy guitars blasting away at your ears and that central riff upon which everything else seems to hang. If other bands tried this I may have turned off by now but The Datsuns just seem to have a knack for writing really catchy riffs. Riffs which you can?t help but tap your feet to. Again the tempo is high and there are solos? a plenty to keep the solo fanatics happy. The vocals are really strong on this track even though the lyrics are a little weak. All in all another great song.

**Track 4 - Harmonic Generator**

This track is unique in that it doesn?t start with big loud guitars... well not for at least 2 seconds anyway. The song opens with a single guitar note sliding down the guitar and then in comes an incredibly distorted guitar accompanied by a one of the heaviest drumbeats on the album. The lyrics on this song are more to my taste, in that they are slightly more abstract (for The Datsuns anyway).

?Wearing next to nothing she's out of control
She likes to shake what she got from her head to her toe
She got big yellow eyes lighting up like Xmas
Turning tricks baby
Electric Mistress?

The vocals are some of the best on the album and there is less screaming and more singing on this track, which is matched by the slightly more subdue
d guitars and a slightly slower tempo.

**Track 5 - What would I know**

This song starts with a treble heavy guitar riff interspersed with a heavy beat from the bass drum. Then about ten seconds into the song the guitars explode and the track comes to life with a fast beat. This is probably the worst song on the album and definitely has the feel of filler. There is nothing really exceptional about this track and is basically just a run of the mill rock song. When listening to the album I find that this song just passes me by and I can?t really say the lyrics are memorable. At 5min 36 seconds it is one of the longer tracks on the album and after about 3 or 4 minutes you just want it to end.

**Track 6 - At your touch**

With this song the album gets back on track and it really brings the tempo back up. This track has a really great riff that is intensely catchy and it is a great song to play really loud before going out on a Saturday night. Although my neighbours don?t seem to appreciate it as much as me. About 2 minutes into the track there is a fearsome guitar solo which always gets me playing my air guitar. This track helps to reaffirm my belief that this is a great album and dispels the boredom induced by the last song.

**Track 7 - Fink for the man**

This track starts with a bit of feedback from a guitar amp, which is soon joined by a rolling drumbeat. About 30 seconds into the track the guitars break in with a slow riff that builds in speed as the track progresses until everything breaks loose. A protracted scream from vocalist Rudloph De Borst is the catalyst for heavy guitars and a drum beat which literally shakes you to the bones (if played loud enough). About three-quarters of the way through the tempo is slowed and the guitars die down while De borst sings softly over a drumbeat. The tempo then slowly starts to pick up and with another scream the guitars come back in and the fast tempo is restored. This is
one of my favourite tracks from the album and is a real head nodder.

**Track 8 - In love**

Another disappointing track which gets lost among the other songs and sounds too similar to other tracks. There is nothing of note to be said about this song really. Read the reviews of tracks 1,2,3 and 5 and you pretty much know what this track is about, heavy guitars and a loud drum beat but nothing exceptional.

**Track 9** - You build me up (To bring me down)

Another slightly weak track that starts with a repetitive riff which slowly subsides into a more subdued part with only the drumbeat and some vocals. The guitars then come back in playing the same intro. riff and some shaky (not in a bad way) vocals. The track follows the same pattern until about 2 minutes into the song when you are treated to another whiny solo. After this the same pattern returns until the song finishes in a somewhat non descript fashion and disappears into oblivion. Another weak track which isn?t that different from most other songs on the album.

**Track 10 - Freeze Sucker**

This track starts with a great riff that immediately has you nodding along and the tempo is significantly raised from the last track. This song also features the best display of vocals and is a highly enjoyable track, which restores my faith in the band after a few weaker tracks. The song ends the album perfectly with a catchy riff and a song, which I find myself singing around the house in a sub conscious sort of way. You know what I mean, when you kind of walk around muttering lines from the song and other people think your crazy (ok maybe it?s just me).

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Summary
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I would definitely recommend this album to anyone who likes rock music and it is the kind of album you can put on and just leave there. Every now and again something will catch your ear and you will tap your feet and nod your head in time with the beat. With this alb
um I think The Datsuns have shown a lot of promise and I will most certainly be looking out for their second album. If The Datsuns can diversify their songs just a little more than they could truly become one of the rock greats. They seem to have a knack for writing catchy tunes but some of the songs are just too similar for me to consider this as a great album.

This album is available from Amazon for £5.00 plus delivery costs.

For more information on The Datsuns visit their website

www.thedatsuns.com

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