The Frequency

Item: The Frequency
Author: Mike Leech

(2004)

Reviewed by Mike Leech

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Label Noreaster Failed IndustriesDecapolisJune 2004

gothic rock new wave synth pop

If vampires really do exist today, and they also existed in the 1980's, and back then they attended creepy vampire high schools, and the creepy vampire high schools had creepy vampire proms, then The Frequency would probably be the band that the vampire school administrators would hire to play at their creepy 80's vampire school proms. I'm not exactly sure what I meant by this ridiculously long sentence, but I'm pretty confident that you'll understand once you've had a chance to hear these guys.

Fronted by Trans Am multi-instrumentalist, Sebastian Thomson, The Frequency plays a deliberately cheesy, retro blend of synthy new wave and trancy goth rock. About 3/4 of the album comes prepackaged with danceable backbeats and lethargically funky rhythms. Unfortunately, these are the tracks that kind of blow. But then there are the "shop teacher's handful" of really strong, rock-infected jams like "Erasing Myself", "Moonburn" and "No Control" that raise this album up just shy of the "worth hearing" mark.

This is the kind of album that only a vampire could truly love. The rest of us might get a kick out of it for a while, but the novelty will soon wear off. Mr. Thomson started The Frequency as a means to create "music that drives you to stay out past your bedtime, dance and taste life to its fullest." All that this album makes me want to do however, is go to sleep early, abstain from dancing at all costs and enjoy life by listening to a better band.

2/4