This isn't to say that The Airborne Toxic Event are a bad band. Clearly, people out there like them. They are critically acclaimed, even being named one of the "Top 25 Bands on MySpace" (which is a lofty claim considering the thousands of bands on that site, of which hundreds are better than this one) by Rolling Stone. They've shown they are capable of making great music, at least with one track. I would expect them to come back stronger with a second album, one that is consistently good from track one throughout, instead of petering out to mediocre rock.
I won't write the band off completely based on one album. They could be an incredible live act that just isn't having justice done to them on a record. I'll await a live show or a second album before I completely turn my back on them. I did see a moment of greatness on the self-titled debut, I just hope there may be more to come.
Article comments
1 - Love and Laughter
I am saddened by your review... See, I am blown away by this band.... I have seen them live and they are one of the very few bands that deliver each and everytime. Are you sure you really listened?? Take another listen to Sometime Around Midnight and Innocense... both are lyrically brilliant and the music speaks to your soul... They are Fresh and have their own sound. Each band has a story to tell... There has been alot of blogging regarding copy cat bands.. this one sounds like that one... I am annoyed by the comparisons... Nothing is new in nature... why is it that we can't just allow the music to be.... why must we pick it apart..... I guess that's the nature of the critic... we are all critics.... This band is exceptional and comes from an authentic place.... Do yourself a favor.. listen without comparisons... Listen to Innocense and tell me this isn't an absolutely beautiful piece.... The Airborne Toxic Event is actually a breath of fresh air!
2 - Garon
I'm sorry if my review saddened you :(
I listened to the CD a few times before I wrote the review. I wish it would have turned out differently as I really do not like giving bad reviews especially to music which I love so much.
I just didn't like the CD as much as I'd hoped I would. I also said that maybe I'm not getting the full effect considering I've never seen them live. There have been times in the past where I did not like a CD or a band and after seeing them live had my entire mind changed. There have also been times where I didn't like a CD, and months or years later I've revisited the album and loved it. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to be able to do that in cases like this. Maybe, it will happen though, and if it does, I will certainly make everyone aware of my mistake.
I did revisit "Innocence" and "Sometime around Midnight" and my opinion, unfortunately, remains the same.
3 - Aaron Andrews
I agree with the review. The music seems a bit derivative of other bands. The lyrics seem to be trying a bit too hard to be "literary". Bob Dylan wrote great lyrics, but it never seemed like he inserted big words into his songs for no purpose. This might appeal to the masses though.
4 - Elise
I dont' know how anyone can listen to Sometime Around Midnight and not hear the heartbreaking poetry in that song. . . plus the whole Jesus and Mary Chain thing at the end. really, really great.
and I agree with the comment about Innocence. . . and i don't think screaming "i'm such a mess!" in the middle of a song is really "trying" hard to be literary. it seems everythign they do is from the heart.
I think this particular critic is just dead wrong about this band.
you completely miss the point.
5 - Aaron Andrews
By the way, are they British and just moved to LA or are they American? I couldn't tell. They have a very British sound and accents so I am assuming they are British?
6 - Zoe
No, they are not British.... They are all American.. :)
The good news is this reviewer is in the minority...I have read alot of reviews of this band and they are all so positive!
They have also recorded and videoed each of their songs (on the new CD) acoustically and posted them. They are really talented! You can't get away acoustically if you're not...
I am looking forward to watching them On Conan O-Brien this coming Friday night.... They were fantastic on Carson Daly....
Also.... KROQ in Los Angeles(one of the largest Rock and Roll Stations in the country) put them on regular rotation back in January this year.. The first time an unsigned band was placed in 10 years... They remained on the most requested list for months.... So.... it appears that "the Masses" are really enjoying them.
Bravo ~ The Airborne Toxic Event~ You are Fantastic!!
7 - Jason
This review is way too positive. This band is all hype.
8 - Carol
crrrrrrreeeeeeepy stalker guy strikes again.
write note to self: "get life."
9 - Scott
I couldn't disagree more with this review. "Sometime Around Midnight" is one of the best songs of the year. And Innocence is amazing, I can't wait to see that acoustic video next week.
What is funny is you state, "Now that the album is out", ah, it's not out yet, not till next Tuesday. Just curious, do you do any research before you write a review?
10 - SilversunFan
"Sometime Around Midnight" is a rip off of "Lazy Eye" by SSPU....it's just played in the style of U2. Go listen to "Lazy Eye" and then listen TATE's song and you can hear...it's the exact same melody.
11 - Garon
Woops, I guess I got my dates crossed. Sorry for the confusion, Scott. The correct release date is August 5.
12 - Scott
SilversunFan,
I don't think it sounds like "Lazy Eye" at all and I'm tired of hearing the word "rip off", please. We are constantly influenced by everything in the world around us unless you grew up in a empty room all your life with no contact to the outside world.
Come on, Bono has called Bruce Sprinsteen, "the Buddha of my youth" Keith Richards was influenced by Chuck Berry. John Lennon and Paul McCartney were influenced and replicated alot of sounds from Buddy Holly. Non of us invented the wheel or improved all that much on it but we use it. The "rip off" comments or "sound likes" comments are just an easy way to take a jab at some band that you don't like. I could list 10 bands the Silversun PIckups sound like, it still doesn't change the fact that they are a good band. Same goes for TATE.
13 - zoe
Scott... It is so refreshing to hear your point of view, Ahmen!!!!!!
Carol.... You got the Creeeeepy stalker guy thang right...Thankfully, there are only a couple of bitter guys who make it their life's work to say really nasty and mean spirited things about Airborne and in particular, Mikel.... Jealousy is such a destructive emotion.
As the reviews keep coming out, they are all so positive, so excited about Airborne...Their upcoming Tour, the Release of the anticipated CD~ August 5th, Conan on Friday, Aug 1st and increased airplay across the country is all that really needs to be said.. USA today and Spin have it right.....
14 - Absolutely RIght
@SilversunFan
"Sometime Around Midnight" is a rip off of "Lazy Eye" by SSPU....it's just played in the style of U2. Go listen to "Lazy Eye" and then listen TATE's song and you can hear...it's the exact same melody.
I wouldn't say it's an exact rip off but sure you can hear some similarities. There is nothing wrong with borrowing from the best though!
15 - James
wow. this reviewer is going to be kicking himself in a few months for writing this.
airborne.
rules.
best new band of 2008.
16 - F-ingCrzy
I just want to say just because the masses like something doesn't mean it is good. That is ridiculous thinking. The masses often do things that are immoral or evil. Look back on history I could cite countless examples where the majority make horrible decisions. Case in point the democracy of Greece did some serious bad shit to their enemies (they all voted for it though).
Or to paraphrase Penn and Teller just because everyone is wrong doesn't mean the group consensus is right, it's still wrong.
Last what is wrong with comparing their sound or songs to another band. Can I not compare Vanilla ice's ripoff to Under Pressure? Should I first listen to Ice Ice baby to appreciate its aesthetic beauty?
Stop using silly arguments to defend you band fan boys. Tell me what you like about the band not that I can't or shouldn't compare them to others or how many good reviews are out there.
I thought they sounded alright, but as others said they reminded me of some other bands while listening to them. I would have to listen more to decide if they are good or just average. I do like the singer's voice, it sounded unique.
17 - SilversunFan
The real problem with music criticism these days is that people are afraid to write true, critical reviews. In the film world, it is perfectly acceptable to write a bad review. However in music, if you don't like a band a express that opinion, you are derided as a "hater".
In this forum, people are simply expressing their honest opinion about a band's artistic production. In my case, I think The Airborne Toxic Event is largely derivative of other bands. "Sometime Around Midnight," in my opinion, is very similar to SSPU's "Lazy Eye" In general, I think the melodies of TATE's songs are catchy enough but very repetitive. The songs and the song strucutre aren't very original. They sound alot like early U2.
Other people have their opinion and are entitled to it. They should defend their points with sound, critical insight though, rather than saying that if a band is derivative it's really ok. It isn't. Is that the standard we want our music to rise to? Sounding too much like other bands is a problem. It's the same as someone painting like Picasso or making a movie that's eerily similar to one made by Kubrick. What if someone paraphrased a novel? That, in my opinion, is what Airborne Toxic Event has done with "Lazy Eye". It's not a direct copy but it is "paraphrasing" something. It's not an original work that came from a truly creative place.
18 - Jordan Richardson
The real problem with music criticism these days is that people are afraid to write true, critical reviews.
Really? There are plenty of "true, critical reviews" here and all over the place. I don't think anyone's afraid of being honest or critical.
There is certainly a backlash against critics that articulate their views in a way not satisfactory to a particular group's fanbase, sure - I've found that out myself with Danity Kane fans and G-Unit fans, to cite recent examples. They don't like having their altars knocked down by anyone. But REAL critics know that it comes with the territory and will continue to speak from the heart, regardless of the "cost" in the comments or letters section.
And I wouldn't say it's "perfectly acceptable" to write a bad review in film, as anyone who disliked The Dark Knight can attest to. Fans will be fans, plain and simple, and their devotion to a band, film, book, etc. often overrides common sense, logic, and disparate opinions. It's just part of life and most critics deal with that, some of us on a daily basis.
19 - Travis
the real problem isn't that people don't like the critique, it's that the critique completely misses the point of the band.
they aren't trying to do what he thinks they're trying to do, namely: quirky takes on pop songwriting which revises existing forms. this is the basic ethos of indie rock.
they are doing completely different kind of art. it's about release and redemption, songwriting, storytelling and connection.
their fans know this so they think this critic is a moron, dissecting their song-structures or saying they're not innovating.
ure they are. they're just not innovating in the way the reviewer is looking for.
it's like DuChamp putting a urinal in an art gallery and some art critic talking about the derivative plaster work on the porcelain. that isn't the point.
these are storytellers. and amazing musicians who are bucking the entire disinterested, fay, ironic indie rock thing with something honest and overwhelming and poetic and visceral.
Airborne fans know this so of course they think guys like this are just out-dated and don't get it.
and they're right.
20 - trexcellent
regardless of one's critical opinion of the yet to be released album, i have to say that i find it humorous that for the TATE nay sayers the band has managed to incite an incendiary blog conversation on a site that i had never read. seriously, does anyone enjoy music anymore?
wait, is there a double negative in there somewhere?
p.s. i am a fan and i have seen them live a LOT. they really are a wonderful band. i am sure someone will leave a snotty comment after i say this and i don't care. that said, i am so over people sucking from the tit of stereogum and pitchfork for their musical nutrition. get off the teet! enjoy what you want. there are SO MANY "critically" acclaimed bands that suck. for starters, one that rhymes with dampire freekend? great, you discovered dub. wow. how arty.
21 - KBM
The Airborne Toxic Event is having an in-store performance and CD signing at Virgin Megastore San Francisco on Wed Sept 17th at 6:00 PM!
22 - onyourmind
The funny thing about this discourse is the inability of TATE lovers to accept that not everybody likes the band. It's not that you are superior and we just don't understand. The band is a cheap remake of good music. There are plenty of examples. Rancid comes to mind. But Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire comparisons? Get real.
23 - yager
i know little about this band, but i just got home and a video of theirs was on vh1(now if that ain't a signal for a bands limited potential i don't know what is). i will say i was fully bored by the sound. yes there was a u2 spacious guitar sound, but the singing was terrible(basically talking below the singers range) and a mess of sound. i saw a fiddle/viola player, but heard absolutely nothing of it in the song. basically i saw a band with elementary songwriting ability, playing power chords, with shitty knock off "emo" hair cuts that were only somewhat original about 3 years ago. why don't their fans just listen to the wholly unoriginal fray, ben lee, or shit go for broke with O.A.R.'s new generic adult/contemporary. cuz that's all i heard from this band
24 - yager
also, i want to add. music is completely subjective. if you like it, that's great. nobody is stopping you and nobody's opinion SHOULD veer you off of you own viewpoint of the band or their music. my previous post might come off bad, but i was just writing about what i felt. i feel very compassionate about music and i just can't see anything redeemable about this band(even after some youtube searches). i just thought my post would maybe provide some insight about like minded people. my main complaint was the melody of the 4 or 5 songs i listened to was very "derivative"/boring. shit, if you can't write a good melody at least make your string player bring something to the table
25 - Geoff
ha ha. i can't believe people like this band. such blatant music industry marketing. the music is horrible. how old are these guys? 40? i love the posing as young indie rockers. kill me now.