RA RA RIOT

Beta Love

2013-01-25

Ra Ra Riot was formed "in the basements and the attics surrounding Syracuse University" and its third album moves the band from string-backed rock into synth-pop territory, a bit of departure from their opening records (some of you may recognize their hit "Boy" from a Honda Civic commercial). They still have the operatic lead vocals of Wes Miles, however, and they've written lyrics to match the electronica behind the voices. These 11 pop tunes are all three minutes or less, pleading for some human interaction in a Twitter age: "I wanna reach you with this binary mind" (#2); "In this city of robot hearts ours were made to beat" (#3); "Oh I watch the whole earth in a little box" (#10). The songs are bursts of energy trying to make a quick musical connection; on the best of the songs--the first three, "Angel, Please" and "When I Dream"--they succeed. 01/13 Michael J. R-Pop/Electronic

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 03/2013

    UNA
    The Laughing Man

  • reviewed 02/2012

    ISIDORE
    Life Somewhere Else

  • reviewed 12/1969

    COCOROSIE
    Tales of a Grasswidow

  • reviewed 02/2007

    THE SPARES
    Beautiful and Treacherous Thing

  • reviewed 10/2004

    Various Artists
    Enjoy Every Sandwich: The Songs of Warren Zevon

  • reviewed 01/2004

    Southern Culture on the Skids
    MOJO BOX

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.