short but sweet
This Is Not The Target Market is Steriogram's second album. They are already household names (except in my house) as they previously scored a Top 20 UK hit in 2004 (record company speak = got to number 19!) when their 'Walkie Talkie Man' was picked up by a fruit based MP3 player for their world wide ad campaign.
A New Zealand outfit, Steriogram are an alternative rock band with over a quarter of a million sales under their belt. Things have been on hiatus for a while with Steriogram, they returned to the studio in 2005 and got caught in the usual record label vs. band vs. lack of interest trap. This caused them to fall out with Capitol, but thankfully, born out of frustration comes this album. Fed up with waiting on Capitol, the band took matters into their own hands and recorded 19 tracks, the best saved for This Is Not The Target Market. The songs are stripped down to basics, no frills attached, with a gritty feel and a hard edged rockiness to them. Produced by the band it has not been 'over-produced' and comes across to the listener with a raw, unpolished sound.
This Is Not The Target Market could be aptly named. Metal it certainly ain't, but that doesn't make it bad either. On first perusal and listening two things jump out at me
1. 10 songs weighing in at a hefty 27 minutes and 49 seconds!!
2. Not a guitar solo in sight!!!
Let's not get too hasty and cast judgement. Steriogram have themselves a little goldmine on their hands. All songs are short (very), precise and hit the mark. Aimed specifically at you young 'uns with short attention spans (the longest track Kare Kare is a mere 3 mins and 26 secs, and by the way I've had shits that last longer than this album)
This band is definitely more of a radio friendly pop/rock with punk overtones outfit. Songs such as the opener 'Get Up' (my personal favourite) featuring Jaz Coleman, 'Satan Is A Lady', 'Own Way Home' and 'Just Like You' are definite stand-out tracks of the album, I half expect these to be the singles from the album. Steriogram have a statement to make which can be felt through the songs, obviously the sound of an oppressed and pissed off band falling out with the record company ''We met a moron today'', ''But you won't answer my calls'', ''There's tickets on the line...'' all in all a few of the many references showing the pain of dealing with someone who doesn't want you.
In times when bands are trying to fill all 80 minutes of a cd and possibly bore you to death with 17 tracks (2-3 songs if you're a prog band!), it makes a pleasant change to have a short, sweet, balls out straight to the point album to listen to. You may feel short changed paying out £10-12 of your own money, but think quality, not quantity. Definitely a band to catch when they tour (whaddya mean I've just missed 'em!)