Carpark North

Grateful

Written by: MR on 29/10/2008 17:43:48

Danish electro rockers Carpark North's third full length release "Grateful", unleashes an even poppier and more electronic soundscape than the last two albums. It is obvious that the three guys have been spending a lot of time in the studio trying to create smooth arrangements, just the right passages or breaks, and adjusting the moods to fit with the lyrics. It is in many ways pretty obvious that they've accomplished that. The 80ies-like synths and moods, which send you back to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" days, mixed with the semi-distorted guitar chords work with no complaints... - As they always did, you are tempted to say. Lau also sings better on this record than on the past two. So this starts pretty promisingly, and it kind of is as well. But on the production side, their sound has been given some serious polishing work. My question is, is it really that necessary?

I own all three Carpark North albums, and I took the time to re-visit each of them before writing this review. Surely, the band's classics like "Human" and "Transparent Glaslike" will be hard to live up to, but that isn't really the problem. The real problem is that Carpark North have in some way become less dangerous. Especially in the verse parts the guitars don't sound like guitars, if there even is a guitar role: the edge has kind of disappeared. As I listen to "Grateful", it hits me that the guys are becoming a bit 'full'. When Carpark North 'made it' as a band, people talked about this new band with this fresh sound, but truth be told, some of the songs here sound like they were designed for a reality TV show winner. Just listen to the chorus on "Bring The Lights", I swear to God Lau sounds like Martin (the winner of 2008 reality show X-Factor).

That being said, "Grateful" is by no means a bad album, and if you like the band's former stuff you should buy it. They haven't lost their abilities to create excellent dance-around tracks which "More" and "Shall We Be Grateful" are good examples of. But still Carpark North were better back in the day when they weren't trying so hard to please the mainstream audiences.

7

Download: More, Shall We Be Grateful
For the fans of: Klaxons, Nephew, Veto
Listen: Myspace

Release date 08.09.2008
Copenhagen Records

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