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Super 8-Bit Brothers

Brawl

(The End; US: 19 Jan 2010; UK: 25 Jan 2010)

And you thought pop albums about video games came and went withPac-Man Fever? Well, not now that the rudimentary electronic sounds of vintage game consoles have found a niche audience. It’s hard to imagine anyone who’d enjoy sitting through all 15 tracks on Brawl, though. The second album from the Chicago duo, one of whom is ex-Mindless Self Indulgence, has some decent electroclash-style grooves, but that’s about it. The songs are novel in the worst way, all pandering and no wit to speak of. There’s a “love” song about two Pac-Man characters. There’s a song about World of Warcraft. There’s a song with lyrics that go, “You can drop your controller / Cause I’m the one who’s in control”. And don’t even mention “postmodern irony”, either. This is just straight-up horrible.

Rating:

John Bergstrom has been writing various reviews and features for PopMatters since 2004. He has been a music fanatic at least since he and a couple friends put together The Rock Group Dictionary in third grade (although he now admits that giving Pat Benatar the title of "first good female rocker" was probably a mistake). He has done freelance writing for Trouser Pressonline, Milwaukee's Shepherd Express, and the late Milk magazine and website. He currently resides in Madison, Wisconsin with his wife and two kids, both of whom are very good dancers.


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