Common Dreads (+DVD) [Digipak] - Enter Shikari

Common Dreads, being the only Shikari Album i've bought really impressed me. I am always a bit dubious about impulse buying with music, but I definitely made the right decision when I walked out of HMV with this bad boy.

I loved the introduction. Some CD's have these little minute-long pieces of 'music' that set the mood for the rest of the album. Enter Shikari's was no exception, and I liked it. It was kind of eery, with some talking ...
...maybe there was some deep political ideology in this 2 minute intro, but I couldn't put my finger on it... but the last line sounded amazing!

The second song, Solidarity, really got me. First proper song on the album and I was hooked. Good bit of synth pulled you in, built you up, and then dropped you onto the brilliant drum beat. It didn't stop there either. It got into the meaty bit of the song, with a nice solid riff going down, drums ... more

Common Dreads, being the only Shikari Album i've bought really impressed me. I am always a bit dubious about impulse buying with music, but I definitely made the right decision when I walked out of HMV with this bad boy.

I loved the introduction. Some CD's have these little minute-long pieces of 'music' that set the mood for the rest of the album. Enter Shikari's was no exception, and I liked it. It was kind of eery, with some talking going on over a simple bit of synth. I think maybe there was some deep political ideology in this 2 minute intro, but I couldn't put my finger on it... but the last line sounded amazing!

The second song, Solidarity, really got me. First proper song on the album and I was hooked. Good bit of synth pulled you in, built you up, and then dropped you onto the brilliant drum beat. It didn't stop there either. It got into the meaty bit of the song, with a nice solid riff going down, drums still pumping behind it, and the vocals just like we remember them. If you don't remember them (because you've never heard them), it's a bit of shouting, a bit of deep growling, bit of speaking. All in all, vocals really work along the genre of the music played.

The songs continued on, and I was still hooked. It got to Zzzonked, and whilst it was on, I was in my car driving around with my Brother and two Step-Brothers. It was so good from the beginning, that we sat there, raving in the car. It was fast paced from the word go, with some coarse vocals shouting at you.
I am always one for a good drum beat, and this song had it. It was solid throughout and kept you wanting more. The lyrics were difficult to decifer, but one line about 1:38 in, struck me, and it was like a drug.

Now, don't assume the rest of the songs weren't good because I haven't mentioned them; they're all exceptional (but writing about them all would bore you, let alone me). Some of the songs have toned down a bit, with Shikari chillaxing and taking it slow. They're good, easy to listen to tracks, so don't knock 'em.

Each song is unique, but seem to flow together. They really accentuate Enter Shikari's talent, and I would recommend this Album to anyone who is vaguely into techno/metal/good music. 

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