Mice Parade — What It Means to be Left Handed
Well, this group is called Mice Parade and they seem to attempt to pick up from where Stereolab left off, but on this album everything seems so jumbled and out-of-focus, and I can't for the life of me find a decent melody out of it all. They attempt to try and add jazz or Bossa-Nova elements to their sound, but it just does’nt work. The vocals are extremely weak on the female side, and the male vocals have a dull processed fee to theml. As does the guitars and bass -- I just have to say that without a decent rhythm-section and the lack of melodic cohesion this meandering mess of an album doesn't make for anything memorable. Well, "Mallo Cup" does manage to be a pretty bad REM or My Bloody Valentine imitation, but that's about it.
I know there must be something that people like about Mice Parade, since everyone has at least heard of them or have bought their records. I must be getting old, however, as nothing here seems to rock me out, or give me anything to be impressed-over. I just remember when music seemed much more exciting -- I grew up with Joy Division, Killing Joke, the Jam and like-minded stuff. Compared to that, Mice Parade just doesn't deliver.
Sorry to say, but What It Means to be Left Handed really doesn't compel me to give this any more than two stars. It's really not my kind of music, but I suppose it'll be really popular regardless of what I say.