 "Could've been better" | 2009-01-13 |
| - Reviewed By doc-tt |
First, what is it with all the folks saying "Kelli decided to leave"? That's nonsense. She was *asked* to leave. That's simply a fact. Whether that was the right decision or not is a separate issue. No question, Becoming X is a vastly superior album, and no doubt Kelli did great work on it - but let's not forget, so did the other guys. Everybody shared in the responsibility for making that album a masterpiece. Perhaps they felt that direction was exhausted, or they just wanted to move on musically and Kelli no longer fit into their vision - nothing wrong with that. That's an artistic decision, and there's no "right or wrong" there. Sure, Splinter is not even 10% of what Becoming X was, but who says they would have done any better had Kelli been asked to stay on? Maybe they just had one album in them of that quality. The vast majority of bands out there never even come close, so to have a Becoming X on your resume is enough.
There are good things about Splinter, but it doesn't have that fundamental quality of obvious genius that Becoming X has. It doesn't grab you in a totally compelling way. You listen to Becoming X and you just *can't help* being lifted up by a great work. By contrast, Splinter is easy to ignore. It's not "bad" or terrible or anything, but it's not compelling. I listened to it the first time, and I couldn't remember a single song - totally different from Becoming X. Again, Splinter is not bad - there are some nice instrumentals and compositional ideas, nice production, reasonable arrangements, and I kinda like the vocals. It's just not inspired and "out there". When listening to music or looking at art, I'm searching for that utterly compelling quality - and Splinter doesn't have it. I don't feel like my money was wasted, but if I lost the disc... meh. Whereas Becoming X is a prized CD I would not like to lose. |
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| "Not as good as the other disks" | 2008-11-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3UZNX7XZ2773O |
| Putting aside the old vs new Sneaker pimps debate (I like Becoming-X as much as Bloodsport, but for different reasons) this is the one to miss.. It just does not do it for me, to dark and depressing when compared to the others. |
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 "Splendor" | 2008-06-21 |
| - Reviewed By nineinnails330 |
| I loved this album. I am a Sneaker Pimps fan since about 1997. In my opinion, this is their best. It is more slow and dark, as opposed to Becoming X and Bloodsport. Chris Corner, in my opinion, is a much better fit for the Sneaker Pimps music and lyrics. I'm glad he was the vocalist on their last two albums, I much prefer it to Kelli's whine to her voice. |
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| "Bold Move" | 2008-03-11 |
| - Reviewed By User: A11Y85T52M5T4R |
| Not many bands can keep a momentum, following or even last long after comitting what is widely seen as a "Cardnal Sin" and that ofcourse is the changing of not only the face of the lead singer but the gender as well. Largely diverting focus from Kelli Dayton to Chris Corner (the founding member) who wrote a large number of the lyrics to the sneaker pimps first album, "Becoming X". However for the Sneaker Pimps, this move seems to have worked. Although every album post Kelli Dayton is distinctly different, the style of the sneaker pimps seems to remain virtually unchanged aside from the person leading the band. I personally look forward to the new heights this band will go to and future releases they could potentially put out. |
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| "the SP Splinter album review" | 2008-03-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2ZZ8ZRCI0925U |
| suprisingly while most people preferred Ali singer of the first sp album " Becoming X" I think Chris Corner brought more creativity to the Sneaker Pimps. Chris is a swell lead and gives the group versatility. Although dark to others " splinter" fills the void |
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| "Later, Kelli - Chris croons AND brings the juice" | 2007-10-11 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1S27HXIIN6MT8 |
How mystifying it is to me that anyone ever confused Kelli Dayton (now calling herself Kelli Ali and posing mostly nude on an unremarkable album with songs to which she is a mere contributor) as the Sneaker Pimps, when she was merely their recruited window dressing. The gentlemen gave her props and license, but she disrespectfully ran away with it, and took the orientation of the band with her, into the woods. It required much moxy for Liam and Chris to reclaim their creation by dismissing her and returning to their roots and lifelong partnership. It was a hugely rewarding decision.
What a dreadful shame that Sneaker Pimps have been crudely lumped into such categories as "electro pop" a la Madonna, perpetrator of one of the world's most pervasive and enduring musical frauds (one more reason why the artifically-sweetened, nasally twinged, Mini Mouse, babygirl, bubble gum-scented, limited vocal abilities of Kelli, who invited comparison to said musical fraudster, was a serious detriment to the band).
Chris Corner is the genuine article - he creates magnificently AND performs as talented instrumentalist and stunningly gifted vocalist, and he does so to a standard of perfection not achieved by most of the more popular acts in ANY genre. He is a rare jewel.
(And Liam ain't no slouch, neitha!) |
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