Simian "We Are Your Friends" : C or D?

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Got this one as a promo a couple of weeks ago and only got around to listening to it yesterday. Haven't heard their first one so this is my introduction to these guys, besides a DJ set at Other Music in NYC earlier this year .
So far (about 4 listens) I can't tell whether the thing's remarkable or half baked. Love the late- period- Beatle Macca inflections in the lead singer's voice, the Nuggetty garage vibe that pops up here and there and the nearly sloppy harmonies on a couple of the songs make me get all goosepimply. The electronic side of things is "feh" - wanna be Timbaland minimalism at times - but that doesn't really detract. I don't think. Whadda you all think?

― Jay Vee (Manon_70), Wednesday, 6 November 2002 04:06 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought their first album showed a lot of eccentric promise, but this one forsakes all that and takes things in a far less interesting direction.

― Curt (cgould), Wednesday, 6 November 2002 06:34 (twenty-three years ago)

According to the press release they want to be the Beatles crossed with the Neptunes, or something like that. The first and the last songs, LA Breeze and End of the Day get anywhere near such lofty idea(l)s. The first album had some bleep Beach Boys, which was prett cool.

― JoB (JoB), Wednesday, 6 November 2002 09:34 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought their first album showed a lot of eccentric promise, but this one forsakes all that and takes things in a far less interesting direction.

loving the 1st album, those were my initial thoughts as well. however, for me, the newie really improves after each turn. it's different, but it's still there. lovely.

― willem (willem), Wednesday, 6 November 2002 09:35 (twenty-three years ago)

I agree with Willem.At first I was taken aback by the very different approach on the new one,but a weeks worth of listening later I'm warming up to it.It certainly is a lot more pop than the first,but IMO that's OK.

― dek1, Wednesday, 6 November 2002 14:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I had no patience for the first one. But this new LP really surprised me when I listened to it on Saturday.

60s melodies (one of the early tracks rips off "19th Nervous Breakdown") crossed with Neptunes-ish production sums it up admirably. Deserves to do well I think - I mean, I'd much rather this was popular than, say, Black Rebel bloody Motorcycle Club. That said, I probably won't buy it as I can't see myself playing it that often if I did.

― Jeff W, Monday, 11 November 2002 15:47 (twenty-three years ago)

I just gave it another play. I might have been a bit harsh earlier. They've brought in some tighter production that sounds cool in places. Title song sounds like Supergrass on a good day. The tighter vocals are kind of annoying mush of the time. And I still wish they would have done more with the drifting songform of their first album.

― Curt (cgould), Tuesday, 12 November 2002 17:59 (twenty-three years ago)

the omega band. but it may be wishful thinking that they'll be the last.

― Anthony Miccio, Tuesday, 12 November 2002 18:28 (twenty-three years ago)

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