The Great Spy Experiment - Flower Show Riots
Now now, I've been looking forward to this album since forever! It was supposed to be released early this year, but some sneaky, evil timing from the band meant that the release was dragged, all the way till the week before Promos (14th Sept).
The Great Spy Experiment are, in my opinion, currently the local band that matters. Their live performances are full of energy, and the band, especially lead vocalist Saiful Idris simply exudes charisma.
The first 3 tracks are stunners. Opener 'Dance With Me' has very groovy beats reminiscent of the 'Jenny was a Friend of Mine' by The Killers. 'A Kind of Love' wouldn't sound out of place on the British Rock Charts (okay trite I know, writer's block!), and 6 minute long ballad 'Late Night Request' serenades you more powerfully each time you listen to it.
The album doesn't sound much different from their live performances - only more 'frills', which mostly work to great effect.
Case in point: Class 'A' Love Affair 2007. On first listen the (extra?) guitar parts sound very 'hua she tian zhu' (draw snake got legs - adding stuff for the sake of adding). But after repeated listens, you find that it actually blends in really well, adding to the mood that was absent in in the demo.
The masterpiece is Track 6, 'Flower Show Riot'. Quick, trashy drums, loud and assertive vocals, and a bloody 2minute 10second guitar solo outro! Seriously man, you wouldn't expect a local band to be capable of such music.
However, the joy of the album tapers off towards the end of the album, with decent, radio-friendly (not a compliment!) impressions of U2 and Sigur Ros on 'The Great Decay' and 'The Sunset Theme' respectively.
Another disappointment is 'Siti in the City', with extra guitar oomph, but lacking the throbbing, pumping energy of the version they perform live.
Lyrically, Great Spy are not bad, if you take into account that they are a Singaporean band. Stuff like "Its Sunday, no its Monday, no its bloody everyday" and "Shaftesbury Avenue" (lol no link!?!?) are cringe-worthy, but otherwise witty, uniquely Singaporean lyrics compensate.
Overall: Super awesome rock album, full of irresistable hooks, with one or two little faults. But the fact that its made by a local, very talented band means you should absolutely go and buy it!