KENWARD COOPER
Theme for a New Aesthetic (Atelier 1 Records)
Reviewed by Holly Day

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Gosh, I went into this with the greatest attitude possible, thinking to myself as the first opening chords thrumbed, "This isn't half bad!" and then the vocals cut in and I nearly collapsed in laughter. And it went downhill from there. Cooper's voice is just way too dramatic for my tastes, and just listening to this conjured pictures of some pale, unhealthy youth slumped over a microphone, his hand clenching and unclenching in the air to mime the melodrama being held within against the backdrop of keyboard washes, dark, gothy guitar chords, and a badly-miked drum. If it's supposed to be funny, that's great, because it's just hysterical - if it's supposed to be serious, I should probably shut up now.

[Pick this up at kenwardcooper.com.]

© 2002 - Holly Day