Madder Rose
Tragic Magic
[Atlantic]
Rating: 2.8
Sorry, kids. The real Madder Rose has gone camping
and -- you'd better sit down -- is never coming home again.
Sure, this new release from New York's formerly incredible
girl-pop band has its rare moments of shining beauty. "Float
to the Top" is an acidjazz- flavored soundbyte with a chorus
like drifting snow, and "Delight's Pool" is borderline
smooth genius, but the ride ends there.
Here's my guess: These kids were pretty fond of the critical
praise their Bring It Down and Panic On releases
received, but sadly, reviews didn't pay the bills. Then
they were scooped up by a major that probably influenced them
to "sound a little more like 'commercial.' Like No Doubt."
Hoping it would finally sell some records, they went for it. The sad truth is, if
they'd kept it real and made a record even half as good as
Bring It Down, it'd have been the breakthrough.
Instead, Tragic Magic as a record is only half baked,
and as a title is only half right.
-Ryan Schreiber