Crystal Castles - (III)
 

http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/2012/...ii-608x608.jpg

Track listing:

1. "Plague"
2. "Kerosene"
3. "Wrath of God"
4. "Affection"
5. "Pale Flesh"
6. "Sad Eyes"
7. "Insulin"
8. "Transgender"
9. "Violent Youth"
10. "Telepath"
11. "Mercenary"
12. "Child I Will Hurt You"

Rate, review, discuss.

Fuck, forgot to add a poll. How do I remove this abomination?

E: Oh wait, I can still add a poll. Never mind.

Its brilliant cant get over how good it is.
Theyve definalty gone for a more ambient sound but
You can tell how it will still be manic live.

not sure this warranted a 5, whoever dished out that rather complimentary score.
It's good, catchy and has the head nodding dancieness but it's not exactly groundbreaking, is it?

I voted 4/5 myself, I guess ome people are more into this kinda stuff anyways. Y'know, there's always somebody who loves a certainr ecord aye? And it's not like it's unlikely that somebody rates this 5/5

4/5 here. I have a lot of respect for these guys...they really do what they can to explore some interesting spaces. I'm sure it's very tempting for a lot of electronic artists to plug in a beat and basically let the song write itself. All 3 of their albums so far are distinct from each other, which is a real challenge with this kind of music. I'm on my 4th or 5th listen now and it definitely keeps getting better. II just barely still squeaks by as being better...mainly because the highs on that album are REALLY high. I'd say III is a bit more consistent, though.

Dance music with lyrics about filling your child's lungs with tar is pretty out there for me. At least a good step beyond smacking ones bitch up.

On my blog I gave this album 3/5.

Cool.

I had high hopes for this one so when I finally heard it, it was intriguing at first but slowly turned pretty boring. First two albums are electronic masterpieces, this one's just alright.

I dunno, I just gave it my first full listen, and, though i haven't listened to the second album yet, i think this album was just more reserved, and had some really chilling, beautiful moments, the last track especially. I think they took an understated route on this one, but it wasn't like they sold their sound or anything.

I do appreciate their change in their sound, and some of it is pretty beautiful, but don't know if I'm totally on board with it. Kinda gave up on it

I dig, it is kinda distant from the menacing, manic energy from their earlier stuff. My favorite thing about this album, though, is that all that energy feels restrained, bursting at just the right moments and maintaining that element of danger, if not creating a heightened sense of it with all the ambiance. Plus, the sound is more focused this way, and I think that's working great as the experience isn't as exhausting and feels more cohesive as well as a more thoughtful project.

That said, I'm gonna go check out the full second album now. I may find myself wrong here, I've heard it was a great next step after their first one, which was masterful itself.

You just made me realize how to explain how I feel. Their first two records are completely unrestrained, adding little boops and bops and glitchy techno which would come completely out of nowhere. III goes for the more generic techno route. Repetitive beats and songs that get tedious after a few listens. Sorta makes me dread how their next album will sound like.

I can see what you mean, and maybe I'm coming from my unfamiliarity with techno, since this is practically the only group I really like from the genre. But I feel like, though it's absolutely a restrained record, you can still hear their syncopation, distortion, and aggression, just in a more ambient, low-key environment - like "Magic Spells" or "Untrust Us" with more malice and a few incidents of "Knights" and "Alice Practice" jumping out at opportune moments.

But I understand where you're coming from, because it definitely doesn't maintain the same energy that Crystal Castles albums used to thrive on, and I even thrived on when putting them on.

Love this album big time, it makes into my favourite albums this year list. 5/5

Listened to it again for sake of this debate, and while it does have it's flaws and doesn't have that improv-ish techno their first two records had, it definitely is a solid effort. Considering I don't listen to much techno, it's definitely my favorite techno album this year.

What'd you think of their previous albums?

Wow, arguing on the internet really can make a difference! :) I'm glad you found it a solid effort, but I still understand why it doesn't strike you the same way the previous albums did. My girlfriend's a huge fan of the first album, and when I showed her this one, she said "whoa, this is different."

Right on Vanilla, I'd put it there too but i never listen to enough this year music to actually make a list with real credibility.

Definitely different. I just feel they went for a safer approach. Their first two records I think are an acquired taste to most. This feels like their album they want to sell really quick

I loved them too. I particularly like the craziness and rough vocals, they're not comparable to any other groups/artists in my opinion. I like how they both sing rather than just one, it gives the album a distinctive and unique feel. These are tracks in II that I smashed via ipod:





<-a slower paced track with gentle vocals which would be great to listen to while stoned.

Hehe that's ok, I have been heavily wrapped with trance, indie and dubstep this year. Now I have a thread idea...

It's not a bad thing that their album is safer, it's just another side of them. In your opinion are they considered a well know duo?

I feel you here, and maybe you're right; perhaps they did try this more subdued sound in an effort to reach a greater audience. I don't think it was strictly in that vain, though, if that was their cause: This interview has the band (mainly Alice since, I'm assuming, she's the primary lyricist) discussing the concepts and themes the album sets forth, many of which I would say are much deeper and/or heavier than what a safe audience would appreciate.

Maybe not "well known", but definitely getting bigger recently. Don't get me wrong people, it's a good album, really good. I was just expecting a masterpiece. Set my standards too high. Easily my favorite electro album this year though, considering the only other one I heard was Justice's sophomore release. Which was a terrible album.

Seen them twice now, once at Reading festival 2011 inside a tent which was insane, they completely killed it in a tent. If you get the chance to see them indoors, i would go and do so.
Second time i saw them was this Reading 2012 and this was on the main stage, they were really good on stage, not as good as inside the tent, but still i think if they are ever to headline a festival and play at nighttime they would do very well. The lighting i believe is a strong need for Crystal Castles, same goes for Enter Shikari they need to be given a later slot at reading and make the most out of the lighting they use..

Hehe that's cool, it's important to have a threshold for music.

I missed a chance to see them live at the Big Day Out two years ago which I am kicking myself for.

I would love to see Crystal Castles live. I am so jealous. I wonder if there's any hope they'll prance on over to Istanbul?


In regards to (III), I can't say I like any of these songs as much as I love Courtship Dating. That song blew me away.

check this out, crystal castles know how to party.
CRIM3S & CRYSTAL CASTLES // squat party london - YouTube

Thanks for that vocal I found it a very entertaining video! I really want to see them live myself.

have you heard any music by Crim3s? they're pretty much on the same page as Crystal Castles if you know what i mean...

CRIM3S - BREED - YouTube

Witch house you mean. Yeah, CRIM3S is nice.

4/5, almost as good as II!