Search - Prids :: Love Zero

Amazing.

Neal A. Obermeyer | San Diego, CA | 07/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This band somehow manages to get better with every release and every show, and this album is no exception. It's not hard to find gushing hype about The Prids - find it and believe it. They are easy candidates for making the jump from "Band you've never heard of" to "Your favorite band in the world.""

Post-Punk Influence (3.5)

M. Starr | Kansas City | 11/01/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sometimes the biggest burden on a band is trying to break free from the comparisons that music critics place on them early in their career. Unfortunately, this is sometimes just the easiest way to steer a reader into a generalized ball park of what they're going to hear. When it comes to a band like The Prids, however, I don't think comparisons are exactly easy to avoid. You'd be half way there anyway just seeing pictures of them. In the end, these unfortunate comparisons have absolutely nothing to do with them being a derivative band; quite the contrary, actually. Originating in Lincoln, Nebraska, and later finding their way to the great Northwest town of Portland, Oregon, The Prids are a band that sound as collectively great as their influences. They have an extremely dark and gothic-like approach, and do so in a particularly fresh and new (wave) style. Similar to other bands from the current west coast post-punk scene, the identifying fashion statement here is dark hair, black clothes, and pale skin. On Love Zero, there are moments that are much stronger than others. At times, songs like "The Problem" tend to be a little "light" in tone, but are quickly taken to the other end of the spectrum with songs like "All Apart and No Fall." A lot of the guitar, keyboard, and bass instrumentations are very similar to the way Joy Division, My Bloody Valentine, and even goth-masters Fields of the Nephilim utilized effects to give their sound a more detached and cold feeling. At the same time, though, The Prids create such a large sound by utilizing these effects (and production) to really hammer things home. The centerpiece, "Llorar," is probably the best example of this with its combination of all these sounds that show them at their most successful. "Artificial Heart Designer" breaks the focus, and leaves me wondering why such a drastic change was placed on the album. I believe it would've been better suited somewhere else. Needless to say, I'm very excited about the majority of Love Zero. Although comparisons will be inevitable in every review you'll read of theirs, they still have the ability to stand their own ground and keep those influences at a comfortable level. If you like any of the bands mentioned at the top of this page, chances are you're going to appreciate this music. There are only a few bands today reliving this somewhat small genre, but The Prids do an above-par job in staying true to their influences."