I HATE KATE - review added 25th January 2009
Album Review: Embrace The Curse (2008)
For fans of: alternative rock... people who aren't called Kate
Californian band I Hate Kate's debut full length album, Embrace The Curse, has a sound rooted between upbeat pop and adrenaline-fired indie music. The mood flows from pretentious nonsense to emotionally charged perfection at whim.
'Bed Of Black Roses' and 'It's Always Better' start the album in fine if predictable style. 'Then You Kiss' is the first big song. Think of System Of A Down wearing Muse t-shirts and you'll get the idea. The lyrics bounce like a kangaroo on a trampoline and are utterly moorish.
'I'm In Love WIth A Sociopath' is as irritating as an alliance of fingernails and blackboards. It's also compulsive listening. On the flip side, 'It's You' is a wonderfully anthemic ballad. Much in the vein of Keane's softest moments, this'll be I Hate Kate's big song at live shows and will get people waving their lighters majestically in the air.
I Hate Kate's debut album features numerous anthemic choruses and sing along verses. It's full of hooks and Mensa-chasing lyrics and is wonderfully performed. The music is defiantly pop-biased and spunky, but does dip a toe into the sea of rock on occasions. You could accuse some of the songs of being derivative, and there aren't enough 'huge' tracks to justify cult status, but overall this will leave you not hating I Hate Kate in the slightest.
Check out... 'I'm In Love WIth A Sociopath' is bloody annoying but weirdly excellent. Grrr!!!
Track List:
1. Bed of Black Roses
2. It's Always Better
3. Then You Kiss
4. Inside Inside
5. I'm in Love with a Sociopath
6. It's You
7. Story I Can't Write
8. Embrace the Curse
9. Major Tom (Coming Home)
10. Thrill
11. Love Association
12. Outta My Head
Label: DR2 Records
Artist's websites: MySpace
