Front 242: 09:20:02:12:15:23:19This issue, our merry little band of reviewers trekked out to the Exclusive Company, and hit the New Releases aisle, as usual. Finding nothing fresh worth reviewing, (Guns and Roses? Country music?), we turned to Front 242, a highly-recommended techno/club group. We picked up Front 242's 05:22:09:12 Off, (translate th enumbers to positions in the alphabet, and 05:22:09:12 reads "Evil"), the companion disc to Front 242's previous release, 06:21:03:11 Up Evil. Based on our experiences with this disc, we're going to go back to everyone who mentioned Front 242 as being worth listening to, and then beat them up.
Andy: Being from a musical background dominated by mainly rap music, I tried to keep an open mind while listening to Front 242 (which I understand to have been used to torture political dissidents in China). This effort became more and more difficult, however, as the CD droned on with no end in sight. Although the beats in the majority of the tracks were halfway decent, the lyrics and musical alterations were lost amid a tossed sea of obnoxiously loud synthesizer work. Here's a pointer: If you want to express a deep meaning then let us hear the lyrics! Repetitive and monotonous, the tracks soon became indistinguishable from one another, causing the reviewers to discuss subjects ranging from problems in school administration to the redeeming values of pot pipes. Obviously, this CD is not going to hold your attention for very long. Perhaps our editor-in-chief said it best when he ended the session with the words: "Let's stop this thing before it makes noise again." Kiss this one good-bye and lay it to rest kiddies. Willy: Well the best part of the CD was the free Front 242 sticker that came with the disc, overall. It was definitely not worth 12 bucks. Although some of the songs were decent most of the songs made me want to fall asleep. I especially liked the fourth track "Serial Killers Don't Kill Their Girlfriend." It reminded me of a Skinny Puppy song (a very paranoid industrial band ... ooh gives me chills). You could imagine yourself on a dance floor with strobe lights, multi-colored lights flashing, and a toy mouse moving around the room (basically a rave) when you listen to this music. But without the actual physical atmosphere it falls flat. Overall it's a disappointing purchase, but a few tracks are worth listening to (well... maybe once). Kanjana: Overall, speaking from a techno-listening point of view, this CD sucks. Not on a "I'll shoot myself" scale, but close enough. Just for your own safety, DON'T DO IT, MAN! Most of the CD gave me an impression of a futuristic factory visit: monotonous employees drilling holes and so forth. But, I can not say that this is techno. Though I have to say that if you want to meditate this will be your thing. Basically, the CD started out with noises, that were soon followed with more noises. The 5th track, "Skin Fur Coat," reminded me very much of the Garden of Eden and tortured little critters (much like I was at the time). All that was followed by some nifty(?) drum beats. I'll have to confess that I enjoyed a couple of tracks. Maybe more. Don't quote me on that. After the review, if you are still thinking about buying this, skip track one and focus on track two. The song, "Modem Angle," starts with really ... neat ... yea.... lyrics. The listening gathering ended up being a open forum discussion on various political issues and then some after the 6th track. So much for Front 242. James: Coming from a musical backaround consisting mainly of REM and They Might Be Giants, I'm accustomed to CDs opening with the band's strongest tracks; Front 242 welcomed me to 05:22:09:12 Off with a track of dead noise. Very cute. 05:22:09:12 Off comes with alot of sound; the listener is bombarded with over an hour of fast-paced, dark, monotonous techno noise. I can see how this music could be described as danceable, but the only absolute requirements for a dance experience are a drum and a floor. The CD has a very futuristic "Blade Runner" feel to it, and listening to the first couple of tracks caused me to imagine scenes of leather-wearing cyberpunks hanging out in underground computer clubs, dozens of years from now. After those tracks, I just starting wishing for real music. 05:22:09:12 Off has very few lyrics; the few that are comprehensible are banal and uninspired. The whole CD is melody free, and I hate that. If you want techno, listen to the Utah Saints or Prodigy. If you want to get rid of $12, mail it to the Liberator. Either way, this CD has no place in your life.
Artist: Front 242
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