Times New Viking
Rip It Off
Matador, 2008
By Beej
The NME gave eight stars out of ten to this mess of a lo-fi album. If nothing else, Rip It Off makes me wonder how out of touch I really am. Feedbacking guitars, basic drums, lacking vocals, and possibly terrible lyrics (the ones I can actually understand are pretty bad), all recorded through what sounds like a webcam mic, create this mindless swath of abrasive nonsense.
Think The Beatles Live at The Star Club recording quality with incomplete and uninteresting songs. Keep in mind, of course, that Star Club had very little major label interest at the time the owners were trying to release it, and that was The Beatles doing established hits. Sadly, Rip It Off makes me not in the slightest bit curious who Times New Viking are. I was obliged to find out, but you aren’t. My advice is to save yourself the energy.
Right from the opening “notes” of Times New Viking’s latest release, I knew I wasn’t going to like it, and I think you won’t, either. The opening track “Teen Drama” is structured around two notes and five words, none of which can be discerned easily, a badly organized mess of a song. “My Head” opens with what sounds like Noel Gallagher on rhythm guitar over the main hook of the song, which is sung by Times New Viking’s vocal duo of Beth Murphy and Adam Elliot. The vocal melody is similar to a schoolyard taunt (e.g. “nana nana na na you are a dumb-head!”) and its effect is every bit as hurtful to a sensitive soul.
“Rip Allegory” reminds me of DD/MM/YYYY with cheap mics, no writers, and a less talented drummer. No point in going any further. One minute and eleven seconds of junk. Fourth track “The Wait” has more of a “song structure” and shows a writer with promise, so long as they’re willing to invest in some recording time at one of Columbus’ many professional studios.
One track, titled “Drop-out,” is a surprise amongst the rest of the tunes. Great little melody, simple structure, and an energetic feel. I am in real danger of liking this song. Luckily, the rest of the songs add nothing to this momentary lapse in irritation. Overall this record is a terrible waste of a boombox’s external microphone and three unremarkable musicians’ efforts.
Shame. There are moments of truly enjoyable indie pop here, and people can’t seem to actually enjoy those moments because they can’t wrap their head around the recording quality.
You know, if it weren’t for bands like this first cropping up in the 60s, we wouldn’t have had bands like the Sonics birthed screaming from the garages of Seattle. We wouldn’t have had punk rock in the 70s, or “college” rock in the 80s. We wouldn’t have had the Ramones, the Cramps, Pixies, The Jesus And Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, The Flaming Lips… I’m not saying TNV are the next My Bloody Valentine, but it feels like you’re not giving them a fair chance.
I can understand what you’re saying 100% and I agree. Unfortunately it’s not the 60’s anymore. There are no excuses for a record that sounds like this. We live in an age where cheap microphones and pirated recording software abound.
Now I understand that what they are doing is a choice, but it’s one that makes little to no sense to me.