[.ca] Chat And Business

should be an ep:
This could easily be an ep. Ikara Colt starts off with the song "one note" that when heard recals the snotty punkiness of Le Shok. After that song the rest of "chat and buisness" is stroke-like and sonic youth-ish. Rudd is great and so is sink venice. They do have great ideas and are from england. They get four stars because the good songs are great and the bad stuff is just mediocre. Intresting release.

bland:
Not ripping off the Strokes/Hives as much as they're ripping off Wire and The Fall, Ikara Colt show promise, but lack that spark that would make them compelling. The production is very treble-heavy, reducing the guitar to almost white-noise buzz, which would be fine if the singer's voice ever escaped the monotone purgatory where it seems terminally based. Maybe if they had the sole female member fronting the band they'd go places. Sink Venice is fine, One Note is good but beware it's the most aggressive song on the album, and City Of Glass shows the band's potential more than any other track. Sort of like a more boring International Noise Conspiracy, but with some tweaking they might be worth it.

One of 2002's best:
With it's jittery energy, abstract lyrics, and menacing basslines, Ikara Colt sounds a lot like Pink Flag era Wire (definitely not a bad thing at all). Though a thoroughly original sound may be lacking, a stack of great art-punk tunes most certainly is not. At The Lodge is the standout. One of 2002's best albums.

Makes my Brain Fight Itself:
I have a friend who works at a local Mom & Pop music store. He is one of a dying breed for many reasons; 1. He works at an dying independent music store 2. He's not only a employee but a musician 3. He probably listens to every album that comes through the door. He taught me how to play guitar, he was my inspiration, he's one of the best musicians in my fair town and has turned me onto countless bands. I think of his recommendations as sacred and think of him as a musical viking scouting the next great album to kill and serve for his mighty hungry crew. Now with some set up, I must recall one night I was in the store and he was gathering up albums for me to check out as he usually does; and he came back with two 'must-haves.' I remember him saying jokingly, "You'll love these albums or there's something seriously wrong with you; if you don't like them I might have to kick your ass." These albums, you ask? !!! and Ikara Colt's 'Chat & Buisness.' I got home, went upstairs and put in 'Chat & Buisness.' I've never lost faith in someone like this. It's like finding out Superman is a sham or something; it's not right. I remember thinking "This is so trendy, It makes me want to kick in my teeth because they're the perfect example of what a 2002 British dance-tinged punk outfit should be." I remember thinking that it's apparent lo-fi production was done on purpose. And that, made my stomach turn. I remember drawing paralell's between Ikara and 'The Lou Reed Wannabes.' Damn, I've got to stop calling The Strokes that. I don't know why this never grew on me; maybe they just were mediocre, or maybe to perfect. Maybe they perfected what they were doing TOO much. I remember all my friends going "I love this, why don't you like it???" I started thinking I was crazy. I decided I had to take it back, and I did. And as of yet, I haven't had that ass kicking he promised he'd give me.

Grew on me:
I'm not a huge fan of the punk sound, but there are a few exceptions. Fugazi and The Fall are among the few bands I really really like that have a punk element to their sound (though I doubt either would be classified as "punk" per se). That said, I didn't expect to like this. At first listen, it came off as somewhat abrasive and atonal. I gave it a chance for a few days in my car stereo, and it grew to be one of my favorites from 2002. There's definitely a Fall influence in there, but it's original enough to go beyond sounding like Fall wannabe's. It's fun to yell along with!

• One Note
• Rudd
• Bishop's Son
• City of Glass
• Pop Group
• Belgravia
• Sink Venice
• After This
• At the Lodge
• Here We Go Again
• May B 1 Day
• Video Clip Show