Sister Machine Gun was started in 1990 by Chris Randall. He made one record for Wax Trax!, three for Wax Trax!/TVT, and one for himself. They're all pretty good, if you like that sort of thing. All of his records would cer... more »tainly go under the heading of "critically acclaimed", but other than that, it's hard to pin a style on the music, which sounds like a strange cross between The The, Nine Inch Nails, and the Rockit-era Herbie Hancock. We prefer to call it "neo-industrial-dada-funk", but you're free to call it whatever you like. Sister Machine Gun's fifth album, [R]evolution, is independent recording at it's finest - everything a band can be when it has full control over it's own destiny. Recorded over most of 1998, the record was released to the SMG fan club in April of 1999, and to the general public in May of 1999.« less
Sister Machine Gun was started in 1990 by Chris Randall. He made one record for Wax Trax!, three for Wax Trax!/TVT, and one for himself. They're all pretty good, if you like that sort of thing. All of his records would certainly go under the heading of "critically acclaimed", but other than that, it's hard to pin a style on the music, which sounds like a strange cross between The The, Nine Inch Nails, and the Rockit-era Herbie Hancock. We prefer to call it "neo-industrial-dada-funk", but you're free to call it whatever you like. Sister Machine Gun's fifth album, [R]evolution, is independent recording at it's finest - everything a band can be when it has full control over it's own destiny. Recorded over most of 1998, the record was released to the SMG fan club in April of 1999, and to the general public in May of 1999.
CD Reviews
Buy it-- any other words would be redundant
08/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"But, I have no problem with redundancy. What can I say? This album is amazing, and a definite blow to the concept of music corporations. After four albums of doin' time for the Man, head SMG guy Chris Randall (one of the top hundred coolest people alive this century) decided to release this, his most recent album, on his own Positron! label. Good thinking, as the total creative control that the lack of corporate fetters allows makes this his best album, as well as one of the best albums this year, and probably even this decade. Standout tracks: all of them, from the crime jazz number "Closer To Me" to the quasi-gospel of "Bring You Down", from the vaguely Stabbing Westwardish (but in a good way) "Got To Be" to the ultra-sexy-smooth "Vibrator." Also, the single, the battle cry "Smash Your Radio!"While every single SMG album is utterly brilliant, (and, with the exception of the unfortunately dated-sounding Sins of the Flesh, all timeless classics,) there's something about [R]Evolution that makes it rise slightly above the rest, and also makes it a must have for practically any music collection.Eat that, TVT."
The Buffet of Music
09/01/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you could pick a CD that is a smorgesboard of tastes, [R]evolution would be it. This disc starts out with an ambiant intro, but by the time the CD is over, you're likely to be jumping around whatever room you're in. There is something to please almost anyone here. "Wrong" and "Got to be" are the, "I'm getting along just fine without you thankyouverymuch." song, while "Transient 1 and 2" are great to mellow out to. "Smash your radio", is a great theme to scream along in your head while your boss goes on about something. And for those of you wishing to get a little something, "Vibrator" or "Bring you Down[take you higher]". This CD has it all. [R]evolution does not sound the same from begining to the end. Chances are that if you aren't keen of the begining, you'll like the end. Just to reiterate, something for everyone. This is an excellent CD to start out on if you're just getting into the band."
A fine peice of work for Mr. Randall
TastyBabySyndrome | 10/05/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As the other reviews put this album in it's place Chris Randall has created a great mix of Dance/techno, hard-industrial and 1 word TALENT with minimal cash outlay and a small independent label. Positron records I predict will have continued success. As this records indicates the labels potential."
The best SMG album yet
06/22/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I started listening to Sister Machine Gun in 1996 and have been a fan ever since. I didn't know what to expect with this album but I was totally surprised when I got it. This is definately the best SMG album yet. SMG albums have always fused various musical styles and [R]evolution is no exception. Definately music for sex and dancing!"
I Feel a Little Strange now, I Feel a Bit Insane...
TastyBabySyndrome | "Daddy Dagon's Daycare" - Proud Sponsor of the Lit | 02/25/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sister Machine Gun has been making quality music for a while now, and has teetered in different directions while accomplishing a balanced set of albums. The refinement of their sound can be seen in the first three works; with Sins of the Flesh kicking out a great first effort, The Torture Technique taking the band to some great heights, and then Burn getting quite a bit of acclaim. Along the way the sound changed a bit, refining into a techno-blender of vocals, blues, and beats, and I have to say I liked it. Torture Technique and Burn had just about everything one could want, and they hooked me and made me a SMG fan for life. The fourth album, Metropolis, was good but didn't continue the upward trend I had gotten accustomed to, but I thought that [R]evolution fixed that trend.
On [R]evolution, Sister Machine Gun had quite a few songs worth mentioning herein but they hit a reviewing wall because they stepped back from some of the techno-elements they're known for. They still kept the electronics, sure, but this seemed to stray more into electronic-jazz than the former releases did. Randall has always provided that anyhow, but this era of SMG strayed more and more into jazz and blues - as the side-project Micronaut showcased.
Transient One (nice, slow beat with solid - somewhat muffled vocals), Got To Be (slow, with an angry heartbeat), Closer Than Me (heavily showcasing a LOT of Jazz elements), Strange (saxaphone!), and Wrong (piano and symbol driven) are all a lot slower than previous works have been leading up to, and that's good stuff. A lot of Randall's strongest work is when he does something with regard to hurting or wanting, and these songs showcase that art. I'm really fond of Wrong because it has a cold sense in such a nice looking wrapper, with proclamations of "I've known you all along" oozing out of the lyrics. I'm also fond of "Got to Be" because I like the way Randall sounds when he does songs of that nature, almost blueprints for his vocals, and I love the sound of Transient One for the same reasons. Still, all these songs take a backseat to Vibrator. If Randall does slower themes well, then he does sensual even better and this song is probably the best of the album with regard to that. Its sexy and somewhat sultry, proclaiming that he "wants you tonight."
On the other side of the spectrum, Smash Your Radio! is one of around three "driven" songs on the album, giving the angst it has freely while spitting the may of mainstream music. The message was entertaining too, and shows how Randall really didn't like his moments in the spotlight. "It's a revolution, brothers and sisters." It just wasn't the revolution a lot of people were expecting."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1