Snyth pop lives again...as 'Chinatown Dance Rock!'
S. Tam | 11/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts is the debut album from Portland's "The Slants." The music reflects a generous influence from the 1980's synth pop sound that we all know and love: Depeche Mode, Erasure, New Order, The Cure. The Slants seem to combine all of this with a modern twist and a little more of a rock n' roll edge.
"Capture Me Burning" is definitely the most electro/dance sounding of them all, "Vice Versus Virtue" and "Welcome to Doomtown" offer a darker vibe to the sound (obviously paying homage to bands such as The Faint and Joy Division), while "Kokoro" is a sexy dance number with an infectious melody that'll get trapped in your head for days on end.
Aside from the Asian cultural references in the subject matter and the distorted 'koto' used in the introduction, the music doesn't seem to be very "Slanted" at all. In fact, most of the sound is inherently European and American...though the twists offered by The Slants are incredibly refreshing."
Waaaaay better than mere "synth rock"
John Warren | Maplewood, New Jersey United States | 07/03/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was around in the 1980s, when the Human League, Depeche Mode, New Order and Yaz made the charts. I found their music catchy but kinda dumb. It was a lot more fun to thrash around to Husker Du or Joy Division. Little did I dream that a band could blend these together. That's what the Slants have done.
These people rock HARD. Their lyrics take no prisoners, either. I bought the CD three weeks ago and I still listen to it a couple of times a day. That hasn't happened to me in years, and I listen to a lot of music.
I don't watch anime and I'm not Asian-American. I'm a middle aged white gay dude. But I'm telling you, the Slants are the real thing for ALL of us."
Absolutely Amazing
Dragonacid16 | Seattle, WA USA | 05/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Personally I hadn't heard of them until I heard they were coming to Sakuracon 2008. So I looked them up. I fell in love with them instantly. Even my grandmother who is a very traditional Okinawan thought "Sakura Sakura" was awesome. Hearing them live was my favorite part of the weekend and now I take the cd with me wherever I go and play it for anyone who will listen. I just want to spread my love for their music all over the world.
All Asian band from Portland Oregon? Depeche Mode feel to some of their songs? Sounds odd to think of it. But there is nothing odd about their music. Filled with so much soul and energy it's hard to pay attention to anything else other than the music when listening to it."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
