As you may or may not be aware, Head Automatica are in the midst of releasing a new album named Popaganda on June 6th. In their words, it's a breakaway from 'project' to 'band' orientation. With the departure of the infamous Dan the Automator, and many key band member changes, Head Automatica has matured since the days of Decadence. Demos have been flying around the internet, interviews have been made (with, may I add, the same questions constantly), but until now, no-one really knew where it was going except for live tracks and demos.
As a rule of thumb, I’d say that Head Automatica themselves are a completely different band now (but in some ways still the same).
So how - and this is on everyone’s lips - is Popaganda? Well, luckily for you, the guys at Head Automatica.Net have got an advance watermark of their next CD (thanks Warner!), and shall be reviewing it, unbiased, and completely clear! I may as well reiterate, I am considering the band to be a new band, since Decadence-HA cannot be compared to Popaganda-HA. The style has changed, but, is it for the better?
So here's the song breakdown, reviewing each track in depth:
01 - Graduation Day
The very first bar should say something is different with the band, then the crashing of the drums and the guitars, a rather large departure from At the Speed of a Yellow Bullet that opened Decadence. The song - based around graduations and the times around and before it - could be considered an older mans version of Beating Heart Baby (which is probably the reason why it is their next single). The poppy feel to the song keeps the listener interested, and the breakdown lyrics reminisce what everyone would want to be at graduation, not ignored and popular. A good start to the album, and a showing of maturity in the band.
02 - Laughing at You
This song, described by Daryl, talks about the record industry and its view of upstart bands. Maybe this is how Head Automatica felt when they released Decadence, unsure and desperate to succeed. I could personally imagine this being the second single from the album, truthful to its nature, and maybe ironic in some ways. The lyric "I'm feeling really sorry about your band" is maybe a testament to bands that can't get their foot on the ladder.
03 - Lying Through Your Teeth
Gritty guitar, drum beat in the background, the start is sudden and ripping, then a calmer verse with keys and strumming. The song jumps from hard to soft to hard again, before going back into keys, and then straight into the chorus. Strangely (and this is from my own personal viewpoint), imagine track 3 of Decadence (Beating Heart Baby), then reverse everything it stands for. This is Lying Through Your Teeth, talking about a girl who sleeps around and lies. "You're not all that you seem" and "We've been passing you around".
04 - Oxycontin (Nowhere Fast)
The song seems to echo the drug culture of Brooklyn. The chorus is powerful in its nature; "I got away with murder last night in the parking lot. In cold blood I have murdered parts of us that we forgot". The keys in the breakdown add to this feeling. If there was a video for this song, I could imagine it in black and white, slow, and raining, with each kick in the drum during the verses changing the scene. This song has feeling.
05 - Scandalous
At first, it feels like Daryls voice does drag out on some of the lines, but then upon listening to it again, this does add to the feeling of the song. It is a stereotypical mellow song, a clashing between a post-Glassjaw Daryl, with the calming keys and backup from Larry. The premise of being the king of the land, and how you'd feel in that place; "I am wearing my crown of thorns, they better be pointed".
06 - Curious
This is the Beating Heart Baby of the album. It's the typical cliche 'happy up-beat' song, but as well, it's got that tender feel to it. It's quite hard to explain. The lyrics seem to talk about a girl who is 'out cold' and what he would do for her. It's definitely the pop song on the album, but it's not serious, it's fun!
07 - God
Following hot on the heels of Curious is another upbeat track! I don't know whether to regard this song as a mocking of God, however, it makes for an uplifting and fun song, while also having a slight ulterior motive. Maybe it's a take on how it feels to choose between two opposing factions, and how one does not benefit over another. The song breaks into a solo by Craig, which brings back the feeling of Head Automatica, along with the key change for the final chorus, which is very reminiscent of Beating Heart Baby.
08 - Shot In The Back (The Platypus)
I personally feel this song might've been good for one of the final tracks, that is, until you hit the first verse of the song. The song has a feeling of well being, very reliant on the bass and keys shaped into piano. The song has a dreamy lyric; "I'm glad i'm alive, there is no way, i'm touching ground again". The song then builds with Daryl repeating the lyric "Shot in the back by my fears", which sends chills down the spine, before breaking into chorus.
09 - Million Dollar Decision
The synth at the beginning outlines the song, echoing the chorus, before the guitar slides in and the drums breaks through. It has a very similar feel to Graduation Day, the off-beat lyrics flow with the song. The pre-chorus builds up; "Now you're asking me, asking me!", stops, and then straight into the chorus with a few slammed chords by Craig. The vocal effect on Daryl is very apparent during the chorus. The breakdown is complimented with a very emotional scream by Daryl, "You're falling to your death". The maturity of the band is shown in full force by this song.
10 - She's Not It
The synth in this song is very apparent, and is definitely suited for the more casual listener who is listening to the album on a warm summer evening, it is a very warm song. The breakdown has a flowing feeling, imagine a video of leaves falling away from the camera onto a green and orange field. This explains how the song feels better than I can explain!
11 - Egyptian Musk
Though the band has departed from the disco feel songs, this song still has a tainted feel of what Head Automatica is. The song is started simply with the bass, keys, and then drums. The flow of the song is very off-beat, and definitely expresses Daryl’s amazing vocal capabilities, showing the highs and lows of his voice, and this is made apparent during the chorus, "It makes everything ok", with emphasis on everything. If you feel more inclined to Decadence feeling songs, this song will help the transition, blending the new material with the old feeling of dance-pop.
12 - Cannibal Girl
This, my friends, is probably my most favourite song. Though it does not sound mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, it expresses emotion but dance. The guitar strums in the background, with meaningful lyrics; "The cold war on the sofa", maybe showing a breakup, an argument. The song has a reminiscent feeling of a new-indie band, but not following the stereotypical feel of one. The chorus is an upbeat but low beat contradiction.
13 - KHORSE
Distorted bass and drums start the song. The very starting lyric would almost fool a listener into thinking it was Glassjaw, with Daryl bringing in the song with a spoken word. The guitar in the prechorus sounds remarkably familiar to a song I cannot recall the name for ("On a rope on a rope keep me hanging on a rope" I remember the lyric being). The song is very instrumental in nature, a very good closing song for the album, with Daryl talking and singing spoken word over the song.
I have not reviewed Beating Heart Baby that is included at the end of the review disc. I am personally not sure as to why it was put on the end instead of the other recorded songs (especially Secret Wars that was re-recorded for the album, but postponed as a b-side), but for those who want a quick departure back to Decadence can listen to it and it should fit in quite nicely to a lot of the songs on this album.
So my final review:
I personally feel (unbiased) that the album is of equal par to Decadence. BUT, it is hard to compare due to the completely different style of music used in Popaganda over Decadence. This is why at the beginning (and I reiterate), I said that Head Automatica now could easily be considered a different back to how they were back in 2004. This album I do highly recommend that everyone picks up and gives a try at least. For those who have listened to Decadence, it might take a couple of listens to accustom to the difference, but for those who are learning the world of Head Automatica, will enjoy this album immensely, I guarantee it.
How do I feel about the change? Well, Dance Party Plus still hasn't left my heart as my most favourite song, but Cannibal Girl is still gaining head. It all depends how you feel, for the dancier moments, Decadence, for the upbeat, Popaganda. Simple!
Final score:
9/10
Review by James (Bazil) Scott (www.headautomatica.net)
Album art and details courtesy of Warner Brothers Records
©2006 HeadAutomatica.Net
(in lieu of the leak, we would like to express that this review was made using an officially provided watermark.
The actual date of this review was 12th April 2006)