Despite the professional and creative looking packaging on the album, the first aspect of Complicated Shirt's Strigine that should be noted is the complete lack of production on the music itself. The audio fidelity of this album is awful, bordering on un-listenable. With just a hint of production, Strigine would have been much more enjoyable. However, Complicated Shirt wears their DIY badge proudly; their press release says, "Complicated Shirt has re-discovered an intensely raw, home-recorded garage sound that trumps all poseurs."
The press release also calls The Strokes out by name, calling them "corporate carved garage rock." Sure, The Strokes have certainly been over-exposed in the press, but they also write songs that are entirely more memorable than the second-rate garage rock songs found here. Strigine is clearly an album that is a concerted antithesis to the over-produced New York City hipster bands, and the lyrics are really quite venomous. Consider this sample line: "Pitch doctor pitch/The Talent abyss/Autotune your soul 'til it dosen't exist" and "Leaches on leashes who have never heard The Beatles/all you bimbos can do limbos under Aids-infected needles." from "Pitch Doctor Slogan."
For a band that, to be honest, just is not that good, these sorts of mean-spirited lyrics and self-important press releases really put me off. While there are a few moments of sloppy guitar rock that caught my attention on this album, Strigine is mostly forgettable. If Complicated Shirt had the quality songs to back up their pretentious message, it might be acceptable. Until then, these guys need a reality check.
1.5/4
