Poets Of The Fall - Carnival Of Rust
Heavily influenced by contemporary US pop and rock (and huge in Finland), the Poets of The Fall have released their follow up to 2005's patchy 'Signs Of Life'.
'Carnival Of Rust' sees the band accelerating up a steep learning curve.
Sometimes you wish there was more plot and more content. Nothing is obviously elaborate. Songs spin around simple riffs and rhythms. The vocal melodies seem content staying within a limited range. It's all extremely well arranged and the production is impressively three dimensional, but only a handful of songs escape the gravitational pull of conformity.

Opener 'Fire' is sturdy, steady, and something of a grower. It's a suitable scene setter.
Guitars flicker for a while before creating some heat; rhythms rock steadily before launching into a jackhammer thump, and vocalist/guitarist, Marko's throaty tenor anchors the song to rock solid ground.
'Sorry Go Round's amped up sonics and effortless groove recalls INXS when they were great. Occasionally this song soars, rendering it album standout by a considerable margin.

Two tracks steps outside the equation, The bass heavy yet melodic 'Roses' stretches the formula into an attractive new shape. You could easily imagine this getting heavy rotation on US College radio. The countryish 'Desire' also breaks out of the safe-as-milk mould, building satisfyingly to a big chorus. If only more of the album had shown this level of inventiveness.

Elsewhere, good songs like 'King Of Fools' and 'All The Way' lack the colour and character required to make them special. Too often we're faced with airbrushed, stylised contemporary rock that's scared to put a foot out of place. Consequently, 'Carnival Of Rust' ends up treading well worn paths, that by definition we've all been down before.

Written by Brian
Saturday, March 17, 2007
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Ratings

Brian: 5.5/10

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RevelationZ Comments


Comment by Jason (Anonymous) - Tuesday, March 20, 2007
I quite enjoyed CoR...its not near the quality of SoL (which I found melodically brilliant straight-ahead pop-rock) but I think its still worth at least a 7. I've heard so much worse than this and the band makes it sound effortless (which is a miracle given that the entire disc is borderline over-produced)


Comment by ThraX (Member) - Tuesday, March 20, 2007
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Comments: 135
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I actually like this alum alot also , I really like they way the singer phrases his words , And there is excellent guitar playing throughout the album.....Fans of melodic/AOR music should love this album........7/10

Posted by ThraX
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Comment by ThraX (Member) - Tuesday, March 20, 2007
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I meant to say album not alum!(HA!)

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Tuesday, March 20, 2007










Review by Brian

Released by
Playground Music - 2006

Tracklisting
Fire
Sorry Go Round
Carnival Of Rust
Locking Up The Sun
Gravity
King Of Fools
Roses
Desire
All The Way
Delicious
Maybe Tomorrow
Dawn


Style
Contemporary rock / pop

Related links
Visit the band page

Poets Of The Fall - Official Website

Other articles
Revolution Roulette - (Brian)

Alchemy Vol 1 - (Brian)



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8 - Outstanding
9 - Genius
10 - Masterpiece
666 - Unrated

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