Barking -- Some general thoughts

[Future Proof]

(Originally written in the 'Barking (Track by Track)' thread, then cut out of the thread and turned into a discussion about innovation, and now cut out of that thread and turned into the general thoughts/overview thread that you're about to read. Links to the former thrads are at the bottom.)

I don't feel like doing a track-by-track review, as I don't want to have to describe what the differences in the tracks are.

The problem with this album is that there's only one song that really tries to push boundaries and academic UW tendencies instead of stay in a safe spot. Louisiana is the unlikely song on the album, in particular an album that owes as much if not more to Kylie Minogue and Madonna as it does sweaty warehouse floors and heady art shops. Initially I was unpleasantly surprised that such a melancholy, serious affair would close this album out, but the more I hear it, the more that I'm struck with how good it is. It shows RnK in a different light, is daring and even though I feel that they could have exercised more discretion when recording the vocals, the little breaks and fluctuations in Karl's voice are honest and real. This I feel is what some reviewers talked about when they were saying that straight-forward lyrics were a surprising fit for UW, as the only thing remotely abstract about the lyrics are the metaphors that are fairly clear to understand in the song's context.

This is a well enough and enjoyable (note this!) album but the problem is that anyone could have made this album, whereas with any of the other studio releases from MK2 and MK3 one could ever claim that. Then again, after listening to the atrocity of OWB I can't help but wonder if at this stage that the boys are played out to the point that they just can't write a solid hour's worth of music for an album anymore. But even then, OWB was honest. Just call this album "UW and friends" to get it over with, and let's see if I'm right or wrong when the outtakes album becomes available.

A harsh review, but an honest one. This is maybe the best album since Beaucoup Fish, not as good as DUBNO and certainly not as good as STITI, but those albums are tough acts to follow.

A thread concerning Underworld's innovative qualities (or lack thereof) can be found here, if you'd like to participate in it: http://www.borndirty.org/forums/showthread.php?t=17092

A thread with deeper, track-by-track synopses can be found here: http://www.borndirty.org/forums/showthread.php?t=17065