Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (2010)

Their second album is self-titled just like the first and that’s quite fitting since this is not a very cohesive album. Listening to it, I really couldn’t find anything to latch onto. The dance influences and layered synths are a constant throughout the album, but they try their hand at several different styles, including mellow, otherworldly ballads (“Ethereal,” “Violent Dreams”) that are a bit boring because they lack any discernible emotion. There are some classic dance-pop tunes (“Celestica,” “Year of Silence,” “Pap Smear”), that also sound as though the artists really aren’t very passionate about their craft. Worst are when try to play dance-punk, sort of like early Yeah Yeah Yeahs (think pre-Fever to Tell EPs) meets disco. These songs are sloppy (not in a good way), and feel underdeveloped. Thankfully, they only try this on “Doe Deer” and “Baptism” which is what Karen O might sound like if she were being taken hostage. I do applaud Crystal Castles for their adventurous spirit, and willingness to try different things, but it’s a shame they didn’t pick a direction and try to perfect it. This album sounds like a bunch of random parts haphazardly assembled, and it really feels empty. Their music doesn’t conjure any images in my mind, nor does it cause any emotional reaction whatsoever. In short, it had no effect on me, and for that reason I didn’t like it.


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