Crystal Castles II

Posted In: Castle Cover

Bernetta Mackle says...

2010 has had some solid indie releases already. Plenty of bands are proving that to find the best music, you have to do a little digging. Crystal Castles do just that. For a band who released a very popular (by underground standards) debut writing a solid follow up can be a tricky thing. Expectations can be crushing. Crystal Castles will no doubt cast off any sophmore slump talk with this new CD though. Basically the band wrote a CD that was true to themselves while being progressive. You know this is Crystal Castles, you just don't know where it is going all the time.



Standout Track (there are lots):



Empathy



I would pay $10 for this song. Great, great song.

Posted on January 20, 2011

Apryl Politi says...

Crystal Castles took video game tonality to a whole new level with their self-titled debut. Simple melodies electronically spelled out in front of brilliantly executed club beats were all the convincing critics needed for stellar reviews. Although Crystal Castles was embraced exponentially more in Europe, they rode the coat tails of bands like Daft Punk and Justice into American clubs.



With their second self-titled album, Crystal Castles have maintained a great deal of that 8-bit Atari sound while expanding and evolving into something much more. It is possible fans may find their new samples a bit less endearing with decreased nostalgia for sounds of their childhood, but the duo made up of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass certainly have some tricks up their sleeves that are worth giving a chance.



Crystal Castles opens with "Fainting Spells," a sort of nod to the duo's previous work, relies on a great deal of classic samples while discernable lyrics remain absent. As soon as "Celestica" begins, however, it is clear Crystal Castles have opted for change. Low bit samples are replaced with shimmering synthesizers that float above Alice Glass' vocals. Rather than continuing this relaxed club feel into the body of the record, "Doe Deer" provides Crystal Castles with a chaotic twist on the very next track.



One of the shining moments of the sophomore album comes from a techno cover of Sigur Ros' "Year of Silence." With music that nearly defines the opposite of Sigur Ros' musical style, Jonsi's vocals blend perfectly with the rhythmic style Crystal Castles has created.



With their second self-titled album, there is certainly plenty of creativity full of sounds never heard before in popular music. By the time "I am Made of Chalk" closes the album, Crystal Castles have set themselves apart from the other electronic artists making names for themselves today. Crystal Castles will doubtfully become a household name anytime soon, but anyone capable of opening their minds to a bit of the obscure will be greatly rewarded with this record.



Similar Artists: Metric, Justice



Track Suggestion: "Celestica"

Posted on January 21, 2011

Tyesha Ducote says...

I love the whole frigging CD. Especially the tracks "Celestica" and "Year of Silence".





Just takes your soul on a journey through the normal Crystal Castles style. ;) MY favorite band and new favorite cd.

Posted on January 21, 2011

Twyla Emmi says...

For some reason, I wasn't expecting such a good album.Maybe because there was no hype leading up to its sudden release.But this album is SOLID, the band has expanded its sound, using more techniques and some great melodies. If you like bands like Passion Pit, Yeasayer, Hot Chip, then give this album a listen - you won't be disappointed.

Posted on January 23, 2011

Elise Putney says...

I was very excited when I saw the Crystal Castles made a second record.I listened to it several times and it seemed like a good second effort. After a few listens I found myself skipping songs and and basically loosing interest. I went back and listened to the first album again and figured out what was missing.This new album is much bigger and complex than the first album.I enjoyed the minimalism of the first album and that is present in some of the second album but on the whole the mood is bigger and louder and more distorted on CC2.I understand what they are trying to do but the new stuff just doesn't grab me like the first record did.

If you are a Crystal Castles fan I say you must buy this record.If you haven't heard the first record yet, then buy it along with this record and listen to it first.

Posted on January 24, 2011

Deirdre Sables says...

Great album, but not as easy to listen to as the first one.

The atari/video game sound and feel of the fisrt album isn't really the sound anymore. While missed, this isn't really a bad thing.

Where the first one seems to repeat itself, CCII is much more versitle.

While I find a about a handful of tracks I could completely do with out here, there are some I would absolutely recommend to the highest.

Such as:



-Baptism

-Year of Silence (an amazing Sigur Ros Remix)

-Empathy

-Pap Smear

-Intimate



Simply put there's a much broader spectrum on this album vs their last album which kept a steady pace, sound, and beat throughout most tracks.

The new sounds are great (in between the noise) and it may be a while before the cd leaves my car stereo.

Posted on January 24, 2011

Joycelyn Passantino says...

This album is great! I didn't think that they could do better then the first but they have. This album is much more like an album then the first one. The songs are much more polished. It's definitely worth the money.

Posted on January 24, 2011

Marcos Guckes says...

The first track on Crystal Castles' 2nd self-titled CD may be the perfect metaphor for the entire album. Fainting Spells starts as a cacophonous, screechy wall of noise, so immediately off-putting, you'll be tempted at first listen to yank the disc from your player and throw it, frisbee-style, at your local record store hipster's horn-rimmed spectacle covered eyes. However, if you're patient, within minutes, a slick hip hop groove within the song rises to the surface appearing only long enough for you to wrap your head around, and make sense of the noise before the song closes up around itself.



The rest of Crystal Castles (II) see-saws between catchier dancey songs and much more abrasive numbers. Regardless, Alice Glass' cryptic poetry echoes throughout, and repeated listens reveal a darkly subversive work which lets the adventurous listener into CC's strange and beautiful world of sound.

Posted on January 25, 2011

Bettyann Whinnery says...

I have been a fan of ethan kath / ethan deth since the kill cheerleader release. The way his songs are composed and arranged can be appreciated by anyone, even if they don't know why they are appreciating it.

This CD will not let you down at all. The "8 bit" sound has pretty much passed on this one, but like someone said after listening to the album you don't really miss it. i'm always happy when a band doesn't beat a certain element into the ground and i think ethan uses pretty good judgement when it comes to that, probably why there was only one kill cheerleader release.

anyways this just sounds like the next level. It just sounds new. GET IT FOR SURE and you will be happy you did

Posted on January 26, 2011

Timmy Janofsky says...

It's really a shame this kind of bands don't recieve enough attention with all the commercial crap flooding us, but time will make them legends, It's just one of the best records I ever hear in the last 5 years.

Posted on January 27, 2011