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CD review: Ghostland Observatory ‘Codename: Rondo’
Ghostland Observatory
‘Codename: Rondo’
(Trashy Moped)
Grade: C
“Codename: Rondo” has a promising enough start. Sure, “Glitter” doesn’t find Ghostland Observatory falsetto freakout specialist Aaron Behrens anywhere near as scorching as he was on “Paparazzi Lighting” opener “Piano Man,” but Thomas Turner’s minimalist electronic beat is groovy enough. The guitar is solid, and “Glitter” is a huge step up over the misguided instrumental opener of 2008’s somewhat overly maligned “Robotique Majestique.”
But with second track “That’s Right,” “Codename: Rondo” rapidly loses steam and never quite recovers. Over an anonymous beat and a generic guitar solo, “That’s Right” spotlights a heavily processed robo-voice, a stylistic choice that — when your singer is capable of hitting the electrifying highs of Behrens — seems like making a Superman movie where the hero never flies.
Unfortunately, that’s a recurring problem on “Codename: Rondo.” While Ghostland Observatory still has the chops and energy that made “Paparazzi Lightning” such a charmer, a sort of blue-collar Daft Punk fronted by Freddie Mercury, the band spends much of its fourth full-length album misallocating its resources. Turner’s beats lack propulsion and Behrens never quite cuts loose, resulting in an album that feels undercooked, a distinctly unsatisfying appetizer for the main course that is the duo’s live show.
“Body Shop” and closer “Kick Clap Speaker” — the latter evoking the Macintosh SimpleText voice made famous by Radiohead’s “Fitter Happier” — make much the same mistake of underutilizing Behrens, while even the tracks where he wisely takes center stage feel limp in comparison with the band’s better songs. “Miracles” isn’t quite as cornball as the Insane Clown Posse viral sensation of the same name, but it’s close, and the spoken-word title track is a goofy experiment that doesn’t pay off.
Of course, Ghostland Observatory is a live band first and foremost, and doubtless many of these songs will entertain when backed with the band’s tour-de-force concert presence. It’s not hard to imagine a crowd of thousands dancing to the catchy-if-cheesy “Give Me the Beat” — wherein Behrens posits the beat as his anti-drug, anti-theft and anti-prostitution. And “Codename: Rondo” has moments of intrigue, like the New Wave pop excursion of “Time” and the spacey depths of “Mama.”
Unfortunately, they’re too little and too late to keep “Codename: Rondo” from being more than an intermittently interesting misfire.
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Comments
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By Steve Hartman
October 27, 2010 6:24 PM | Link to this
Who are you Patrick Caldwell? I hope your going to the album drop concert tomorrow and they show you how good this album really is, because I am. This album is clearly up there with the others they’ve put out, this guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
By Amir
October 28, 2010 6:18 PM | Link to this
Pff, I loved the CD, the more “electronica” style of codename rondo is the band evolving and testing new things which to me means their still having fun with their music. Your critique is in poor taste and seems to contain some odd biased against the band. I really would hate to see who the reviewers favorite bands are, can anyone say Nickelback. Can we please have someone who actually enjoys this style of music provide CD reviews? I personally cant wait for the show tonight as Ghostland Observatory shows are like no other bands I’d ever been to. I also was a little surprised at how well the venue sounded, I expected the same horrible atmosphere and sound as the frank Erwin center but was pleasantly surprised with the stage arrangement, lasers, and sound quality. Hope
-Zenofex
By GLO
October 29, 2010 12:44 PM | Link to this
Went to the show last night at CP and they freakin owned like always. These two are untouchable on stage and have NEVER disappointed. The synergy of the crowd makes it all worth the $35. I’ll be waiting for their next trip back to centex ;)
By J
October 30, 2010 11:37 AM | Link to this
I’ve seen this guys live at least 6 or 7 times. I thought the Cedar Park show had a lack of energy. They sounded great and clearly upgraded on their light syestem….I heard Roger Waters (lighting tech) from Pink Floyd is doing GLO’s. The tracks are simple and Thomas brings the beat as always but it felt like Aaron wasnt cutting loose like we know he can do. Kick Clap Speaker shows Thomas’ talent as a dj. Overall, I was a little disappointed with the new cd but thats because I have high expectations for the Austin colaboration. They can do better than this.
By music person
November 10, 2010 12:56 PM | Link to this
I agree with the review, but I do have to say, Ghostland is a live band. I heard this album displayed live on their past 2 tours before it officially came out. I was honestly excited for it to come out because I enjoyed the new songs live so much, but the album just was a disapointment. The tracks are so much better live, and I think the band knows that their existance is because of their performances. However, I really honestly wish Behrens voice would have been displayed on this album as it was on the last few. Ghostland knows what the fans like. Fans need to keep supporting them so they can keep making music like we know they can.
By wan.rdt
December 17, 2010 2:11 AM | Link to this
uhhh.. no, the review is pretty spot on. in fact, if anything, its perhaps generous. i am a huge GLO fan. always have been, especially since paparazzi lightning - even way before i saw them live. and of course, live they tear it up. definitely some of my all time favorite shows. but this album was a pretty bad disappointment. sorry folks.