Cooper Temple Clause: Unfocused but Well Done Rock
Written: Oct 11 '04
Product Rating:
Pros: Definitely appealing...
Cons: Lacks direction...
The Bottom Line: If you're sick of all the sound alike, "depressed" rock bands I highly suggest you check out this Cooper Temple Clause album. Good stuff.
lambchops's Full Review: Kick Up The Fire, And Let The Flames Kick Loose * ...
Formed in Reading, England, Cooper Temple Clause breaks from the current British music trend of “upbeat rock-infused retro pop.” Instead, the band is distinctly alt-rock.
Cooper Temple Clause is made up of vocalist Ben Gautrey, guitarist Tom Bellamy, Dan Fischer (bass, guitar), Didz (bass), Kieran Mahon (keyboards), and drummer Jon Harper. The six-man band was assembled from various local bands and after performing live earned their own individual following. A deal with major label RCA followed in 2000 as did various EPs and singles and eventually 2002’s debut See This Through and Leave. The band has become rather popular in both the UK and around the world (remarkably Japan is among these countries), but stateside Cooper Temple Clause has made no such splash.
This lack of attention is strange, especially considering that here we would call the band’s music alt rock or (regretfully) post-grunge. I just would prefer to call the music rock—pure, fun, and somewhat original. Basically, Cooper Temple Clause provides me a bit of hope that rock is (at least for now) still alive. Before you expect me to go on and on about how wunderbar the band’s sophomore effort Kick Up the Fire, and Let The Flames Break Loose is, I must admit to not being blown away. It is good; don’t get me wrong, but not earth shattering and definitely not the best thing since sliced bread.
Kick Up the Fire, and Let The Flames Break Loose (RCA, 2003/2004) is sometimes heavy (Promises Promises) and at other times mellow (The Same Mistakes). There is a little bit of everything here musically, but mostly I’m reminded of the exciting guitar rock of The Who mixed with a dash of Oasis and a dash of Nirvana. It’s definitely an odd but inspired mixture of sounds and influences. I’m pleased with the band’s refusal to stick to the alt-rock formula. It makes for a much more interesting listen. Though, unfortunately it still doesn’t quite seem like a complete vision.
Kick Up the Fire contains ten songs with the last (Written Apology) clocking in at an epic 10 minutes 10 seconds. While not exactly necessary, this is a testament to Cooper Temple Clause’s creative nature if nothing else. There’s nothing bad about Kick Up the Fire. Most songs in fact are good. Only a few fail to really hold my attention—quite an achievement in this era of lackluster rock schlock (thank you Creed, Linkin Park, and Evanescence among others for past and present comedic material).
Cooper Temple Clause kicks off their second release with The Same Mistakes. Mysterious, strange, and painstakingly arranged it is driven by a bass guitar and Gautrey’s boyish voice. It is this voice that helps to differentiate the band’s music from other rock outfits. He is disaffected but not angry, gruff, or outrageous. He seems usually to be calm and collected. The Same Mistakes is one of the most appealing songs here—quiet, unassuming, and beautiful all at the same time.
However it is the heavy, electric-guitar laden Promises Promises that really catches my attention. Kick Up the Fire is a massively rocking album. Gautrey’s appealing and easy voice contrasts the heavy guitars and drums and for that matter electronica-influenced keyboards. As the album progresses it morphs into many different creatures. New Toys is melodic and electronic throughout—sounding something like Garbage. Talking to a Brick Wall and Into My Arms also a good songs though I’m definitely more impressed by the first three.
Blind Pilots (track 6) returns to the not-quite-pop persona of The Same Mistakes. I’m reminded of Grandaddy as the whole picture is appealing from the electric guitars to the lyrics to the vocal performance. It is unquestionably one of the best songs of the album. The lovely grandeur of this song is contrasted by the industrial-rock-electronica of A.I.M.. Another good song—just not as good as some of the others. Similarly, Music Box proves loads up on synths and ambiance—vocals are secondary to most everything else. The band is obviously trying to point out that they are much more than just guitars or keyboards or even a boy-voiced frontman.
As Kick Up the Fire draws to a close, In Your Prime stumbles into the spotlight. It’s an experimental, uncomfortable, confusing sort of track. It’s probably the worst of the ten songs because it doesn’t seem to go anywhere. In Your Prime sounds great but does nothing for me lyrically or melodically. I’ve already spoken to the lengthiness of album ender Written Apology. The song’s quality is immediately apparent with lovely lounge feel that is found nowhere else on the album. Good? Yes. Surprising? Indeed. Necessary? Questionable.
In any case, I am impressed by the diversity of Kick Up the Fire. It is a risky rock album that lacks boundaries but not intelligence or appealing. It also lacks focus, but the quality of the recordings mostly makes up for that downfall. In all, I’m impressed by Cooper Temple Clause based on the quality of Kick Up the Fire, and Let the Flames Break Loose. It is a cure for the common rock record.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. The Same Mistakes
02. Promises Promises
03. New Toys
04. Talking to a Brick Wall
05. Into My Arms
06. Blind Pilots
07. A.I.M.
08. Music Box
09. In Your Prime
10. Written Apology
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