Slow Runner – No Dissasemble

I’m really at a lost for words as to what to say about this album. I’ve listened to it many times, read the bio and read some other reviews, and still, I have no idea what to say. But I guess in a way, that could say it all too, because normally, a CD that you can’t describe hasn’t really touched you; and I would find it hard to believe in anyone as really touched by Slow Runner‘s No Disassemble.

For you see, the album is a very weird and experimental pop album full of soothing vocals, bleeps, blops, and melodic pianos. Its as if, as their bio claims, “r2-d2 had an aching heart and a love for the noisiest beatles song.” But oddly enough, it doesn’t even sound as good as that description. It’s as if they are stuck in an identity crisis, trying to go their own way, but still waiting to make it sellable – and the result? An album that just doesn’t flow that smoothly.

With songs like Redneck Bar and Streamlined, it’s obvious that these guys are able to write some catchy, Postal Service-esque songs, but when they go off an experiment with songs like 12.19.03 andHappy, the listener cringes a bit. The rest, however, is simply not captivating. Most of the album passes by, leaving the listener with a slight itch in the back of it’s head and droopy, tiresome eyes.

There’s not a whole lot to say, and that, in a way, says it all. It’s an album which impacts the listener minimally and is slightly boring. The laid back, lazy, quiet vocals don’t strike the listener anyway, and the beeps and bops get a bit annoying after a while. And really, the odd song here and there is not enough to keep anyone listening for an entire forty minutes.