2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best album of '99 - it had to be them., 29 Oct 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Suicide Pact - You First (Audio CD)
I do feel slightly guilty giving five stars to this album, as Therapy? have been "my" band for so long, and it almost seems like a cop-out to routinely reward them with five-star status. But they deserve it. This is renaissance and it sounds good.
After personnel changes, a generally disappointing last release in "Semi-Detached" and what I perceived as something of an identity crisis surrounding the band, they've gone back to their roots, signed up to an indie and done what I never thought they'd manage again - on "Suicide Pact..." they truly sound as if they're enjoying themselves. With the return of the 1991-era guitars and Andy proving you can be an excellent singer while routinely ignoring the concept of melody, the album is raw, dirty and utterly inspiring. From the ridiculous boogie of "He's Not That Kind Of Girl" to "Sister"'s schizophrenic verses and killer chorus, there's not a wasted moment, not the slightest hint of trying too hard, this is just Therapy?, pure, simple, unadulterated - and sounding more dangerous than ever, with the anthemic "Six Mile Water" disintegrating into a natty little wall of sound and "God Kicks", apparently recorded in the middle of a field, genuinely menacing.
Perhaps it's "Little Tongues First" which really sums up the album, though, with the sense of fun combining with awesome power to provide an instant live favourite. This much I know, as I had the great pleasure of seeing them live in Hamburg in December, with support from Rico of all people. A gig from the two best acts of 1999? You don't ask for more.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Therapy? album... EVER!, 18 Sep 2000
This review is from: Suicide Pact - You First (Audio CD)
Ever since Toublegum, T? fans have been waiting for the lads to make an album that could have that instant effect. Infernal Love never quite got there, and Semi-Detached ultimately left you wanting more. Well here it is - Suicide Pact... This album is packed full of great riffs, and caters for various musical tastes ; the twisted 'He's Not That Kind of Girl' kicks the album off in style, Andy's voice sounding as menacing as ever over a massive guitar riff. The quality never wanes throughout the whole album - 'Jam Jar Jail' and 'Little Tongues First' have to be right up there in Therapy?'s all time classics, but its 'Other Peoples Misery' (sounding like Motorhead meets Sepultura!) and '10 Year Plan' (a beautifully brutal statement about record company politics) which really set the pulse racing,Martin McCarrick's cello solo in 10 Year Plan being a major highlight. T? also show their mellow side, with the wonderful '6 Mile Water' and the atmospheric cello driven 'God Kicks' (a statement about N. Ireland "God Kicks with both feet") The whole thing is rounded off with the rifftastic 'Sister', and if you listen on afterwards, you'll get the eerie 'Whilst I Pursue My Way Unharmed', which consists of noise recorded from a shopping centre and the lads jamming and Andy moaning a tortured rant over the top. If you bought Troublegum and haven't really bothered with T? since, I'd strongly advise you to try this album out. You shouldn't be disappointed.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Choose Life...Choose Suicide Pact!, 4 May 2007
This review is from: Suicide Pact - You First (Audio CD)
A number of words spring to mind when I think of this album. The first would be aggression, which this album has in abundance! Its also very original and far removed from Therapy?'s other albums. Yes folks, if this was Star Wars, Therapy? would have well and truely crossed over to the dark side! Andy growls and spits venim through the likes of the excellent "Wall of Mouths" and "Hes Not That Kind of Girl". No pop-rock evident here, it's been buried in a shallow grave along with radio friendly singles.
this is strictly for those who like their music off kilter and darker than Stevie Wonder's shades!
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