Thursday, July 20, 2006

CD Review: Strident Zend’s Perhaps Indefinitely

By Kaitlin Parker

At least Strident Zend doesn’t claim to be anything they’re not. It’s right there in the dictionary:

Strident - characterized by harsh, insistent, and discordant sound

Well, maybe harsh is a bit–harsh. Not edgy enough to be abrasive and lacking the instrumental backing to be fierce, Strident Zend errs more on the side of simply unrelenting and annoying. On their new album Perhaps Indefinitely, the opening track, "Shame," sets the standard for the rest of the album, presenting a string of five or six words unceasingly repeated, asking questions and forming phrases that don’t completely make sense. "Fixed" presents the claim, “Twice is nice, twice is nice, twice is nice, twice is nice, but you’re not that clever, no you’re not that clever.” If twice is nice why are they saying so four times and is it really the other person’s cleverness about which they should be worried?

The lead vocalist lacks a strong sense of confidence in herself, thus inspiring none in the listener. A lack of emotion, creativity, and tunefulness yields an album that is flat--vocally, musically, lyrically, and otherwise.

"Indian Twilight" is the one bearable song. Strictly instrumental, the tune follows the same formula as all the other tracks, but listening to the same guitar riffs repeatedly proves infinitely easier than wincing your way through thoughtless words. "Stab the Knife" is a diversion from the rest of the songs in that the message is pretty clear: "Stab the knife, that’s not good enough, twist it twice, that’s a little better." And we’re worried about rap music inciting violence? Granted, the only violence likely to result from this album is that of the self-inflicted variety. Anything to end the suffering.

Thankfully, Strident Zend’s fifth release does not go on Perhaps Indefinitely. It is mercifully short, clocking in at just over 27 minutes.

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Comments

Mike Orren Staff

I haven't had a chance to listen yet myself, I can assure you that when we review a CD, it's the reviewers actual opinion. We're not trying to candycoat -- we're just not STARTING from a point of view that something isn't good:

http://www.texasgigs.com/blogs/notmus...

This is by no means our first less-than-positive review. It's just that we run many positive reviews, and people are so un-used to that in the scene, there is a perception that it's all rosy.

The only commitment we'll make is that we'll see that someone reviews ANY current CD of a local band on request. No warranties on the outcome.

But, at least the band, fans, and others with differing opinions can always ring in by commenting.

2 years, 11 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )