Donkey
The Age
Friday July 25, 2008
Donkey
CSS (Sub Pop/Stomp) 2.5/5Woe betide the novelty act that dares to produce a follow-up record. Where regular rock bands need only deal with the Difficult Second Album Syndrome, novelty acts must also steel themselves for the inevitable: death, taxes, backlash. Critics who initially raved about that first record will be out to turn inevitable regret into revenge. So it goes for CSS, the fashionista Brazilian outfit whose debut album, after being murdered on dance floors, used to pimp iPods, and bundled with Microsoft software, now stands as the very definition of annoying. But flying in the face of expectation, Donkey finds the party-startin' Paulistanos laying their novelty status to rest. The songs here are more complex, the lyrics much less embarrassing, the electro-clash trashiness ditched for guitar-pop earnestness. It may still be an album bound for failure, destined to be a victim of disappointed critical vengeance - not entirely unwarranted. On first impression, CSS were insidiously memorable; catchy as a June flu. This time around, they've made a far superior record, yet it rather fails to register. -- ANTHONY CAREW
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