Ohhhh myyyy ... I think it's time to go back to the main Plone page now. From: Novice Violin Overall Album Score: 7.3 out of 10 I chose to review this album sort of at random ... I was piddling around on my digital music service and I decided to review whatever album comes up next no matter what it is. And - wham! - I ran into For Beginner Piano by Plone. And, what an interesting album it is! (Although, I think I might just be happy that I didn't run into any "death metal.") This album was released independently in 1999 and it is the only album so far to be done by Plone. (Before this, they had released two EP's.) And, overall, it's pretty worthwhile. To put the album in its proper category, it would be retro-electronica. Yes ... apparently this band (a British trio comprised of Mike Bainbridge, Mark Cancellara and Michael Johnston) got together, found some old drum machines, synthesizers and whatnot and decided to make an album! And the result is largely good. (And it's virtually all instrumental.) The earliest electronica I've ever listened to extensively is Kraftwerk's Autobahn ... but that one was released in 1974 when that band had already advanced electronica past its very early, experimental stages. Well, for this one album, Plone takes us back to the early days ... probably when Kraftwerk was still at the drawing board ... and come up with something that is so accessible that I almost wish Kraftwerk was more like them in the day. However, (and this is fortunate) this album does not sound like it was a product of ruthless experimentation because, indeed, there is nothing really for them to experiment with. Rather, this is an album done by a group who wanted their audience to enjoy themselves. Such is evident. To classify the listening experience, I would call it a 'weird delight.' Now ... even within the restrictions the band has set for themselves, there is a fair bit of diversity in here. Some songs sound like they could be used for a cartoon, others sound more equipped for a video game from the mid-90's, some sound like they should be in some sort of 50's B-sci-fi movie, others would sound great for a Halloween party. There's a fair amount of diversity in here. Well, there are strong negative aspects to this album certainly. I'm not sure how many times I've listened to it ... (6 times, probably) ... but my best listening-experience of it was definitely the first. While many of these tunes are a 'weird delight,' they are too simple and straightforward for this to be a particularly worthwhile album purchase. That is, unless you are really into this kind of thing! (Considering that I didn't even buy it, and I don't really want to ... All I'm saying is that if you have a music download service, then I recommend giving this album a 'spin' to see what you think.) And, it's not like I didn't enjoy it the 6th time. It's just that by the 6th time (or the 2nd time for that matter) I knew what the album had to offer. (It also gets weak in its midsection, but I'll get to that during the track reviews.) To me, however, making a 'retro-electronica' was an interesting idea, and I seem to be enjoying myself when listening to it for the most part. It certainly isn't a perfect album by any means ... but, for a new artist (not even to mention an independent artist), this is remarkably good. Overall Album Score: 7.3 out of 10 (Yeah ... I wasn't being very mean in the review. But here it is ... a 7.3. They would have fended better had they sat down and came up with a few decent hooks in their songs. But it's not a bad album at all.) Average Song Score: 7.3 (There are a few good retro-electronic acts among a few ineffective stabs at "experimental" mood music.) Album Tilt: 7.0 (I really enjoyed it the first time I ever listened to it. But, my interest sort of fizzled after that. Nevertheless, there are still a few tracks I enjoy almost as much as the first time I listened to them.) Artist Rating: 7.5(A good try for a first effort! It must have been a bit daring, too, putting out a retro-electronic album in an era where the industry thrives over their better, modern counterparts. It's certainly a commendable effort.) Track Reviews On My Bus 8/10 This is a good-time electronica tune that is mostly put to a happy, pleasant pace. The melody is easily memorable. The many, many different sounds coming out of my speakers can be a bit boggling and nonsensical, however. But I suppose that adds a bit of feeling to it. The only thing keeping it from scoring above an 8 is that I'm getting darn sick of it. On the first or second listen, though, it might have gotten a 9. Top & Low Rent 8/10 Video game music! Hehehehehehhh! Oh come on! Video game music was the only kind of music I ever listened to as a young teenager. So what's really to keep me from not liking this track? It's another entirely pleasant little electronica number that (if you're familiar with video games at all) would work darn well in the happy village. Plock 9/10 This is kind of spooky carnival music (...try a cheap B-horror movie...) The song is about as fun to listen to as the previous two tracks, but this one gets extra points because of this spooky vibe. A weird delight, for sure. Marbles 7.5/10 This is pleasant, too, and it's less 'overcooked' like track #'s 1 and 2 sorta came off as. However, on the ole flip side, this one gets a little bit boring. But, in the end, they nearly even each other out. Busy Working 6.5/10 This one sounds almost like spooky Halloween music. It has the spooky, soaring synths going off all over the place ... there's even a little bit o' harpsichord for effect. Yes. However, mood music is hard for anybody to create effectively. Plone gets close. This song isn't exactly fun to sit down and listen to, though. The Greek Alphabet 6/10 Yeah ... this is about where Kraftwerk was when they were still experimenting in the early 70's. It's odd, repetitive, and (in Plone's case) quasi-experimental. The album's only use of voice appears on here (and the next track) in the form of distorted vocals. (Yep. Kraftwerk did similar things with their vocals!) Yeah ... it's very peculiar, but it sort of sacrifices accessibility for that. Press a Key 5/10 Yeah ... we're at the height of the album's 'sogginess' here. While it's still listenable (and also shows a bit of a modern beat), it's BORRRRRRRRRRING. It doesn't even work particularly well as mood music. Sorry. Bibli Phone 6/10 Weird church music? Or perhaps it's an odd Middle Ages style homage? A little bit misfired here and overlong, too. The sounds just don't seem to correspond with each other at times. (I could have complained about the same thing in some of these other tracks, but it isn't until here that the aspect just turns out bad.) But at least this one has some really nice melodic moments. It gets slightly better at the end, too. Be Rude to Your School 9.5/10 Awwwww! I was hoping for some kind of Beach Boys parody! Well, the album significantly picks up its pace of quality here! It's another happy Halloween-ish song. It has a well-established beat and bass-line. (The beat sometimes sounds like it belongs in the old Middle East.) The spooky harpsichords are playing some very interesting notes to that atmospheric background. C'est un tres excellente weird delight! It's my favorite track in the album. Summer Plays Out 7.5/10 The last track of the album (if you didn't figure that out!) is a bit too heavy on the miscellaneous noises. But at least these noises seem to work well together. (I especially like that monster-robot laugh I hear sometimes, and there's a peculiar 'dying bleep' in here that I think is really good.) It has little to defend itself as far as melodic qualities. But I do enjoy the machine-aura vibe it gives Hello! If you gotsah commentntntnt on deees al(bum), den please send wun here!

All reviews are copyrighted by Michael Lawrence. I ate my beginner piano.