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 09/2006

    Yo La Tengo
    I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass

  • reviewed 09/2005

    Setzer, Brian
    Rockabilly Riot vol. 1 A Tribute to Sun Records

  • reviewed 01/2006

    DANIEL LANOIS
    Belladonna

  • reviewed 10/2008

    JEM
    Down to Earth

  • reviewed 08/2011

    THE SILOS
    FLORIZONA

  • reviewed 04/2010

    DRIVE BY TRUCKERS
    THE BIG TO DO

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.