Regrettably Alex or Taylor
Dear Indiana Jones Wannabes, This week we decided to bring you “FORTRESS,” the newest release by Miniature Tigers. Released this summer, “FORTRESS” is an exciting 10-track expedition down the Amazon River. Enjoy our review, or don’t.
Taylor thinks this … for sure:
“FORTRESS” is an album that brings out the child inside of you. Both fun and blissful, the album carries you to a land full of adventure, complete with wild chases, confusion but also filled with reflective moments. Let me explain, the opening track starts out with an upbeat, naive feel much like someone preparing for an exciting trip without quite knowing what is really in store. As the second song comes in, you begin to think to yourself, “this is interesting” but as soon as the drums come in you begin to realize what you’ve really gotten yourself into. An adventure both to test your skills and also to entertain you. I feel like the second song really gives you a taste of all the different sides to the band Miniature Tigers.
“Dark Tower,” the third song on the track, is peaceful and reflective. It gives you a nice reflective break before the next song, “Goldskull,” throws you for a side quest. I felt like this song was the weakest track on the album, not only for its venture off-track, but I also feel like the vocal melodies don’t fit well with the rest of the song. While listening, I couldn’t help feeling the desire to skip to the next song. But I withheld myself and was relieved when it abruptly ended at two and a half minutes.
After this letdown song, it quickly jumps back in with the wildest track on the album, “Bullfighter Jacket” which is an expedition through a dense jungle of chanting, wild drumming, piano explosions and fun vocals with a surprises all around. The album carries on through its journey with a few more letdowns, such as track six carries on far to long, the verses of nine don’t quite fit with the choruses, which are fantastic and fun, and most of 10 just seems like a miss.
However, the album still carries on with its ups. The track “Japanese Woman Living In My Closet” is my favorite not only for the fun and humorous story the song tells, but also for the surprises that are present all along the two-minute stretch of the song. After this short treat it jumps in with “Tropical Birds” which reminded me a lot of the victory portion of the adventure, right after the intense song about the Japanese Woman, it slows down just a touch and cries triumphant. Even though I feel like the album should end with this song, and the little piano instrumental at the beginning of the ninth track playing for the credits, it still carries on against my wishes.
Even though it has its downfalls, “FORTRESS” is still a good effort from a fun band. You walk away from the album and you don’t feel like it was a waste, instead you leave feeling content with the listen. Give the adventure a try. However “FORTRESS” is definitely the weaker of the bands two albums and much to experimental for my taste. I highly recommend giving “Tell It To The Volcano” a listen if you don’t like this one.
Alex may or may not think this:
At first, I had a mixed relationship with “FORTRESS.” After seeing the Miniature Tigers a year ago, I fell in love with the bubbly indie-pop feel of the band that moves you as smooth as a glass of warm hot chocolate on a cold day. I bought their first album “Tell it to the Volcano,” and it matched how they sounded live.
When their second CD was released, I didn’t listen to it right away, but after seeing the band live again, I bought it to give it a look. “FORTRESS” just didn’t sound the same as the stuff I had loved before, so I was disappointed. Giving it another listen I realized that the same Miniature Tigers were there, they were just hiding behind a more synthesized sound and I found Charlie Brand’s catchy voice was hiding playfully beneath a strange effect.
“Bullfighter Jacket,” ‘Japanese Woman Living in My Closet” and “Tropical Birds” are all similar to their older guitar and drum heavy indie pop sound that makes you smile and tap your feet to the beat. On the other hand, the tracks “Gold Skull,” “Mansion of Misery” and “Coyote Enchantment,” are more electronic sounding and perhaps I had just judged the CD prematurely.
When you boil down the CD, the essence of Miniature Tigers is still there. The tropical mix of psychedelic and indie-pop that goes down smooth and makes you smile is what the Miniature Tigers is best at. Sometimes one can be too hasty to reject something based on previous experience and I am guilty of this.
Bottom Line: I love most of the songs on this CD, with very few misses. Over all I would recommend this album to anyone who likes an easy listen. I also recommend checking out “Tell it to the Volcano,” as that album is even more fantastic.
Thank you again for your time and energies, have a fun holiday break!
Regrettably yours,
Alex or Taylor