Release Date: 17 February, 2004
Audio CD
Tracks
- The Last Day I Was Happy
- Band Aid Covers The Bullet Hole
- Crispin Glover
- Alexander The Burn Victim
- Baby Dracula
- Black Horse Ridng Star
- Can't Halloween Valentine
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Rating 4.5
decoy.comIt was just over a month ago that I was drooling all over Scarling's teaser Ep "Bandaid Covers the Bullet Hole." It was one of the most amazing and freshest sounds I have heard in ages. It was a 3 song prelude to what turned out to be just a slightly longer Ep. The new album is entitled "Sweet Heart Dealer," and it contains 7 songs. Humm...not exactly bursting with material, but I applaud them because there is no filler here. It's still killer shoegazer brilliance and distorted baby doll vocals. The best way I can think to describe these guys is My Bloody Valentine for the Gen-Xrs with a gorgeous female voice.
The guitars are literally swirling and layered thick as thieves. Chris Vrenna's(NIN) handywork is all over this product and it's a job well done. This is really not for everyone, and I'm thankful for that. It's not really catchy, and there's no single for MTV or radio..not one that jumps out anyway. This is for the puriest, it's deep and thoughtful. The first track "The Last Day I Was Happy," sounds like Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson joined hands for musical matrimony. It comes fully equipped with industrial sludgy guitar riffs and the sick prom queen snarl. Alot of this album reminds me of early 90's alternative, and radio I recall with glee! Bands like Veruca Salt, Ruby, Salt, pre-glam Hole...but with that elitist textured guitar and synth that really put it in a league all it's own. They even give an ode the palest man in the universe, Crispin Glover (Back to the Future's dad McFly.) This is fitting seeing how Scarling are some pale suckers themselves (check their website for photos.) My favorite song on the cd is "Black Horse Riding Star." This song brings the pain, it's got the rage and aggression I was waiting for through the first 5 tracks. Jessicka screams so shrill-ly "Black horse riding star, goodbye and damn YOU!!" I don't know maybe it's just me but I miss the days when alternative was cool. I want to hear this stuff on the radio again. While this album is surely better then most of the mid 90's staples, it just shows how the mainstream is a shadow of it's former self. Am I bitter? Do I feel old? Am I nostalgic? Your darn right and a bandaid probably won't fix it, but Scarling sure does help it go down.
side note:
Those who once worshipped Jessicka's old Band Jack Off Jill will hopefully love her new band scarling. it's certainly tremendously better then the solo effort released by JOJ's other founder Robin Moulder. (tcr is seriously the worst music I've heard to date)In a nutshell - Scarling rocks!From the ashes off Jack off Jill rises Scarling. This band is simply awesome. Their song Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole is one of my favorite songs to date, period. Jessicka's vocals are great and the band's instrumentals are spot on. Everything combines into one great concoction of rock. If you have never heard of Scarling before you are seriously missing out on some good music. This is definitely not one to miss!Jessicka is ready to shine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This is better than jack off jill,i didn't even listen to heavy metal when joj broke up(i wasn't even alive when they were formed.)When jessicka was in joj she hadn't fully brokenout of her shell yet,know she's ready too shine.Without the insecurities of robin breathing down her neck.I don't even like robin's new band anyway(TCR.)As of always,i'm going to write a song-by-song review...............
"The Last Day I Was Happy"..Thrashing vocals as she screams at the end of the first chorus,this song has beautiful lyrics.I don't know if i'd like this cd as much as i do.
"the bandaid covers the bullet hole"i sang along to this song when i first heard it,she does't scream so it's like a normal pop song,but it's not.This song is bleeding with incisions as it speaks of beauty and blood!
"crispin glover"this song is about an actor whowas in charlie's angels,this song never made sense to me but i still love it.I guess jessicka must like crispin glover because she wrote a song about him.
"alexander the burn victim"one of the best songs on the album it has instrumental parts and whispering.it kind of confused me when i fir heard it.I don't get it.
"baby dracula"I laughed so hard listening too this song.it was so funny.the chorus creeps up you're spine as you hear beautiful rage go through jessicka's tone.Great song!
"black horse riding star"best song on the album,swearing and rage.poetry and spoken word thrshing screams at the the end as she yells with beautiful voices creeping through parts of the songs.
"can't"saddest song on the album.i cried during this song.longest song on the album.i listened too this song for the first time as i was trying too fall asleep and i fell asleep crying!
overall this album is a beautiful masterpiece,a definite intrest when you start.jack off jill fans,take caution shade you're eyes.this is even better than joj,jessicka is ready to shine.
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