Oneida - Secret Wars (8 tracks) +Album Reviews

Solid

Hapworth | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | 01/23/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's tempting to compare this Brooklyn trio to Sonic Youth: they hail from the same neck of the woods, they both embrace noise, and both aren't afraid to lay down 15-minute tracks. To be fair, though, Oneida has its own basement-punk sound, favoring chewy keybs and nods to 70's rock (think Blue Cheer, Deep Purple, maybe even Yes (listen to "The Last Act, Every Time"). After several listens, these tracks grow on you, though this might be the byproduct of musical recurrence, for each track on Secret Wars builds itself upon an essential repetition. Around the repetitions, though, the band lets loose. Check out the sonic propulsion finale of "Treasure Plane" (along with the submarine sonar keyboard fills) or the kitchen sink percussion solo on "Caesar's Column." You also have to like a band that keeps the CD's running time under 45 minutes (another nod to the days of LPs?), and that's with the 15-minute "Changes in the City" included.

Read more reviews at http://unpaidrockcritic.typepad.com"

Making noise sound good

Elliot Knapp | Seattle, Washington United States | 11/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oneida's "Secret Wars" continues a trend set by "Anthem" and "Each One Teach One"; this band is creating a new brand of psychedelic music. Oneida use a mixture of heavy drums, guitar, and droning keyboards to create an in-your-face brand of catchy psych rock--just check out the first few songs. The opener mechanically grinds through a blissful cycle of chant-like euphoria. The vocals are generally pushed back in the mix, making for an overall intoxicating effect (aka psychedelic). My favorites are "Wild Horses," "The Last Act, Every Time" (Velvet Underground sounding), and "The Winter Shaker." Oneida uses a lot of repetition to get their drug-simulation point across, so it might grate on you for the first couple listens. However, if you give them a chance the music will really grow on you in a good way. I recommend these guys if you like Pink Floyd, Velvet Underground, Soft Machine or the Secret Machines."

Pitchforkmedia hounds!!!

memorytheatre | Los Angeles, CA United States | 05/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Better give this record a chance. Darn good eclectic album. Don't miss the boat on these guys."

Oneida at their best

J. Clifford | CT, United States | 02/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am happy to say that I'm not really the first person reviewing this album somewhere where many thousands of people could possibley see it- Oneida has had the fortune to have been reviewed in countless major magazines now with their new album Secret Wars. I've been an Oneida fan for a while now and i was extremely excited to get their new effort. I was not disapointed. This album is awesome. Throw out all the other 'it' bands, all the other hipster, distortion-loving noise makers out there- Oneida is where it's at. Buy this album and be impressed, go see them live and have your head implode. All the songs on this album are really cool, but there are highlights. My favorite's are the first song, Treasure Plane, and also Caesar's Column for it's infectious drum beat and bounciness. Wild Horses is killer, and The Last Act, Every Time is a mind blowing freak out fest, and the album concludes with a fantastic 14 minute (i think) exploration that is not what you might expect Oneida to do with 14 minutes after hearing their last album.. there are more than 2 notes in this one.
Read the reviews in the big publications if you want buzz words like 'new york's psychadelic troubadors of noise' or whatever, and i guess thats a good way of describing them, but im just going to tell you how much damn ASS Oneida KICKS. if you go see them and you still have your ass unkicked, you are hopeless. If you buy this album (which you should, along with their other ones) and you arent blown away, i dont know what to tell you.. cause this album blows me away just like their other albums."

One of Oneida's Finest

thezane | Troy, NY United States | 02/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oneida has been rocking the psychedelic for a really long time. On Secret Wars, they have really perfected their unique sound. The album opens up with the somewhat melodic, and laid back "Treasure Plane", and then proceeds to completely kick your ass with two phenomenal rock songs "Caesar's Column", and "Capt. Bo Dignifies Allegations With A Response." These three songs are worth the price alone, however the album doesn't let up! In fact, the only sub-excellent song is "The Winter Shaker", which is just down right annoying. But, skip that track and you have a practically perfect album. The 14-minute album closer is wonderful repetitious build, which will destroy you and everything else in the room.
thezane of IndieTech"

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CD Details

CD Reviews

	Oneida Secret Wars Genres: Alternative Rock, Special Interest, Pop, Rock, Metal Track Listings (8) - Disc #1 Treasure Plane Caesar's Column Capt. Bo Dignifies the Allegations With a Response Wild Horses $50 Tea The Last Act, Every Time The Winter Shaker Changes in the City
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