Why This Is The Obvious Cash Grab
Alright guys. Let's have a wee-chat about something I know about; it's a little thing called creativity.
If you're a creator and you wanna sit there, mull over or second guess something for a while, go right ahead and plan the entire thing out; execute it the way you want. There's a whole culture rewarding people for that, it's called the mainstream. But whatever you do, don't take any risk at all.
It's this illusion, entirely manufactured for mass consumption, which is what this newly released EP "Disconnect" by the highly acclaimed group, Monks Of Mellonwah respresents.
In the meantime, the rest of us are down here beating the bushes, trying to get something going and these guys get nothing but praise for playing it safe.
Hard To Miss Comparisons
But rather than wax bitter all over this thing, let me tell you what we have here.
First thing to seep out is a unpredictable instrumental that's badly synthesized and fortunately for us, short. I think the last time I heard something like this was with the final track on Boy George's Cheapness & Beauty album called Il Adore, whcih is forever burned in my memory as the most embarrassing overly dramatic violin part of all time.
And guys, if you're confused by this reference because of the man's sexual preference then shame on you, we're past it now. Right?
To their credit, they've released a lot of work since 2010 starting with the generically titled EP Stars Come Out. There's a lot to be learned from releasing that much work if you're a brand trying to pin down an image.
So they're doing all the right things to be in league with other hard working artists, but they also play it too safe.
My personal preference is for music that's edgier and experimental, meaning that even the writing process isn't restrained. So I'm already biased to their big box store style of music.
I mean, you can hear Justin Timberlake in some places and a watered down version of Keane in the title track Disconnect. We already have the best version of that out there, so why do we need another? It's almost like a showcase of their appreciation for major label pop stars.
And Now, The Good Stuff
At best, this EP is more of the generic sound we're used with beats and polished production but over the last five years they've release music, there's no sign that they give people anything to think about. The listener remains unchallenged, with a bunch of generic dance singles.
And while they've had some big name producer/engineers with them, it doesn't sound like they've rolled bones for someone who will add some character to their sound.
There's also the mainstream-sellout part of me however, that's into this too. I mean, I don't listen to enough of the plain Jane stuff to be unfeeling about it because tracks like Show Me Something More have subtlety in the layers of production that do keep me interested.
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I mean I don't think about it much but on occasion, I like to go to the malls.
That's where the J.T. pop-sounding track Look At Me comes in. I might be in the mood to blast it when I'm slow-looking for a place to park. That's the right demographic to pitch this stuff too.
About as close as it gets to edgy for me is with their Never Been Good track where it opens up with a slightly threatening keyboard melody and then later with a bass line during the first line of the chorus, "I think I might have seen your face", where it holds the notes a bit longer while Kaushik adds to the impact with his vocals.
And the solo guitar in that track can be scrapped as it's not at all very original or expressive enough to improve the song. It might actually take away from the song but since the track already is already well accented with the mentioned details, it's salvageable.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVPO-AvfpGE[/embed]
Look man, there's certainly (and obviously) a place for this stuff. I get it. It's not beyond me. But I know a cash grab when I see/hear one and understand there are people who just want to clock into their daily routine, and clock out when it's done so they can get back to prime time television with the kids.
They don't care and more power to them! Right? I mean, these guys just came from touring with Sevendust and Creed's Scott Stapp, which is the biggest billboard to prove my point.
If you're into this stuff, then go for it! You can find them on
BandCamp
,
,
SoundCloud
,
MySpace
,
ReverbNation
,
YouTube
,
, Or their site... knock yourself out. Just not for me, man.