Arizona Daily Wildcat advertising info
UA news
world news
sports
arts
perspectives
comics
crossword
cat calls
police beat
photo features
special reports
classifieds
archives
search
advertising

UA Basketball
Housing Guide - Spring 2002
restaurant, bar and party guide
FEEDBACK
Write a letter to the Editor

Contact the Daily Wildcat staff

Send feedback to the web designers


AZ STUDENT MEDIA
Arizona Student Media info...

Daily Wildcat staff alumni...

TV3 - student tv...

KAMP - student radio...

Wildcat Online Banner

CD Review: I am the World Trade Center

The Tight Connection

(Kindercore)

By Phil Leckman
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Tuesday Apr. 23, 2002

Grade:
C

Since it will undoubtedly be at the core of any coverage this album receives, let's begin this review by explaining that I Am the World Trade Center's outrageously unfortunate moniker has nothing to do with Sept. 11: The band had its name before the World Trade Center disaster, thought about changing, and then decided to stick it out. But why? Given this duo's obscurity, one can only imagine they're thinking they can cash in on the inevitable media attention. That seems like an unlikely possibility, however: Whatever the name's pre-Sept. 11 connotations, it's hard to imagine a bigger mismatch for the World Trade Center's tragic connotations than The Tight Connection airy indie pop.

Indeed, those looking for some sort of response to Sept. 11 will doubtless be surprised by the group's failure to address the tragedy in any way. In place of catharsis, I Am the WTC offers up simple pop melodies sung with very little conviction over 1980s-style Casio electronica. Imagine a less committed Heavenly or Velocity Girl singing over a karaoke version of Madonna's "Lucky Star," and you're not far off the mark. In fact, karaoke is a good analogy for the group's entire sound: You can easily picture vocalist Amy Dykes shuffling awkwardly on a bar stage, trying to look like she's not trying too hard. This is nonchalant, breezy pop at its breeziest, and if the group were named "The Puffs" or "The Kites" or something equally inoffensive, this album would prove just as forgettable. The only thing that stands out about I Am the World Trade Center is its tragic name, a name wholly inappropriate for its sunny-day love songs.

ARTICLES

advertising info

UA NEWS | WORLD NEWS | SPORTS | ARTS | PERSPECTIVES | COMICS
CLASSIFIEDS | ARCHIVES | CONTACT US | SEARCH
Webmaster - webmaster@wildcat.arizona.edu
© Copyright 2001 - The Arizona Daily Wildcat - Arizona Student Media