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 05/2009

    RHETT MILLER
    Rhett Miller

  • reviewed 11/2011

    BUTCH WALKER AND THE BLACK WIDOWS
    The Spade

  • reviewed 12/1969

    JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 POUND UNIT
    JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 POUND UNIT

  • reviewed 04/2006

    Mint
    Magnetism

  • reviewed 03/2014

    ANNA ROSE
    Behold A Pale Horse

  • reviewed 08/2007

    THE WATERBOYS
    Book of Lightning

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.