Media Review

Celebrity

Lovesick (CD)

Doghouse
website | mySpace | pureVolume

Overall Rating:

8.5

Music Quality: 7.5

Production: 8.0

Originality: 9.0

Being a fan of the band Celebrity for a long time, it was a very exciting experience to notice they were back from their disappearing act. Their sites hadn't been updated in months and although I still thoroughly love the Sle.EP EP, it was great to see they were back and with a full-length on Doghouse Records. Expecting songs akin to their EP, especially with two songs from the EP on here (Cave and So Long Farewell, only Cave was redone), I was suprised to hear a slightly different approach on Lovesick.

The songs struck me initially as a little quieter, and more ambient, almost more boring. Remember Us and Disconnected continued the shoegazer-esque pop from their EP with raging guitars and powerfully driven basslines, but in songs like Lovesick and Sundown, I found myself wanting more. Although they are solid pop songs with good beats and melodies, I missed the dark, loud, shattering sound found on songs like James and Camera. The lyrics are also much more direct on Lovesick; with songs like Son To A Father it's not hard to tell what they're talking about. As with their sound change, I felt a side of myself missing their mysterious, strange lyrics and song titles.

Nonetheless, the production much cleaner, and less raw, Lovesick is a straight-up good shoegazer influenced pop rock CD. Swirling vocal melodies combined with tons of equally calm guitars make this CD the best for a quiet evening, and the emotions and lyrics, although often more direct, are sincere and expose the band's growth during their hiatus. Pick this up if you want a genuinely different sound that, while unordinary, is one to easily satisfy.

reviewed by Andrew Martin