Destroy Rock & Roll

by

Mylo

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When I first heard of Mylo, I decided, sure, I'll check out some of these songs. I honestly hadn't the foggiest of what to expect, except that this man labeled his CD Destroy Rock & Roll, and I didn't know what that meant. I downloaded the title track and another song, "Drop the Pressure". I...was NOT impressed. In the least bit. "Destroy" was erratic, unforgiving, and a complicated listen. I really cannot afford to sit around and just listen to things whenever they come on. Music may be my passion, but it is a wonderful backround atmospheric passion. You know, stuff to bop along to while I...write reviews. Haha. "Drop the Pressure", with it's squiggly vocals and weird electro sounds similarly put me off. Mylo was not the saviour of dance in my eyes!

But then his songs kept turning up in compilations. Mostly "Drop the Pressure", but then an interesting mash-up of "Drop the Pressure" and "Dr. Beat" surfaced, resulting in the 80's retro-smash "Dr. Pressure". I started to come around, also, after the wonderful "Mash-up Mix" by the Cut-Up Boys put out by Ministry of Sound. It fused together vocals and instrumentals from many popular dance songs from the last few years. Pure dancefloor genius, but that's another review. Needless to say, "Drop the Pressure", in it's many forms, was growing on me. Other songs started to pop on my radar as well, notably "Paris Four Hundred" which was mashed-up with Tegan & Sara's "Walking With The Ghost" to create the ultra-poppy, wonderfully dancy, "Walking With A Ghost In Paris". Fans of Tegan & Sara should acquire this wonderful little mash-up by Party Ben. Then the song "In My Arms" was soon found by me in the form of a music video I was unaware of. The video is quite heartfelt, a girl arriving by train to someplace. Then we see a boy, in bed with a girl, notice the time and run out of the door (presumably) to pick up the girl from the train station. When he gets there, she points at her eye, her heart, and at him. (I love you) They do various things, all very romantic, all very kissy, and then proceed to fornicate back at his place. The next morning, we realize the scene of him getting out of bed hadn't happened yet, and as she wakes to see him leave, he points at his eye, his heart, and then at her. I love when things are flipped on their heads. The song itself is an interesting rendition on "Waiting For A Star To Fall", using the bare minimum in the way of vocal sampling over some dreamy, melodic synths. Finally I heard the song, "Muscle Car", featuring vocals from the group Freeform Five. In the normal method of Mylo, the vocals are purely anti-normal. The female singer intones over the fast-paced synths, "Well oiled, that's what you are. C'mon and ride in my muscle car." She then lists a variety of muscle cars, from Chargers to GTOs. It's a wonderful song, maintaining the creamy dreamy synths that the album seems to capitalize on.

And what about the actual album? All of the previous songs mentioned I heard before ever hearing the album. How is it? Well...the songs I mentioned (save the Tegan & Sara mash-up) are featured, and if nothing else, they make the album an extraordinary buy. A version of "Muscle Car", sans Freeform Five, is also present. It is simply the background music, and it is quite odd to hear the negative space. Many of the songs border on chill music, one actually looping the vocal of a young man talking about getting over drugs. They can tend to drag, but the obvious achievement is overwhelming. Mylo was only 24 when he created this album, put out on his own label, made from his computer, in the wonderfully electronic-deprived country of Scotland. It may be tough to comprehend, on an album titled "Destroy Rock & Roll", but there is something here for almost everyone. If you like your metal black just like your coffee, perhaps you should look elsewhere. All of those interested in a relaxing trip down dance's dreamier pathways, definitely indulge. And I don't even take drugs!

For the beauty and rapture, I give this a big B

At first listen, Mylo's "Destory Rock & Roll" seemed like it would be a really good CD. There are some cool, fun, upbeat songs on the disc. There are a handful of stellar songs on here.

However, after trying to get through it all, the disc seems to be more of a collection of songs; not so much a cohesive album. It's a nice collection of songs but the songs don't really vibe/ gel together a lot. There's no real underlying theme/ feeling that runs throughout.

I think Mylo would work better as a collection of MP3's on a playlist than as an album. I don't think this album will "destroy rock and roll"; it's just alright - not great.