Death From Above 1979 got the cards that so many others, no matter how many hands
they play, are never dealt. Call it luck of the draw, bluffing abilities
or a downright godsend, but some bands have it and some bands don't.
There's no word for "it," and we don't know where "it" comes from. Whatever "it" is,
it makes you listen, it makes you like it and it makes you want to listen
to it again. Death From Above 1979 — lucky bastards — definitely
got "it."
Maybe it's the know-how to blend seemingly disparate parts so well that they feel as if they were meant for each other from the start. Maybe it's the unique mix of Deep Purple-ish heavy metal bass riffs, post-punk howls and dance beats. Maybe it's sincerity, honesty, hard work and soul. Maybe it's the Toronto duo's ferocious capacity to make two instruments (drums and bass) sound like a thunderous 10. Maybe it's all of that combined. Maybe we'll never know. Maybe we should stop wondering and just be glad they got "it."
Opener "Turn It Out" begins with a squawking bass line that sounds like a guitar
as it leads with suspense into spiraling out-of-control riffing and a pummeling
attack of drums. Minimal, stop-start rhythms push and shove behind "Blood on
Our Hands" as melodic strings jangle and crash and lead vocals whine and strain. "Black
History Month" — the slowest, most groovin' song of the 11-track set — has
a slick '80s dance flavor, strong melody, and a lot of passion. "Little Girl" takes
its speedy, gritty riff directly from Deep Purple's "Highway Star" as it builds
up to echoing urgent cries and spine-tingling slides. The creepy metal title
track rushes and rumbles, fully equipped with enough energized speed and assaulting
power to take anything on. "Pull Out" features snapping, tough-as-nails punk-rock
playing, while closer "Sexy Results" swaggers with the sneering, dirty feeling
of a night out too late, of doing things you know you shouldn't.
You're a Woman, I'm a Machine brings together the best parts of metal, hardcore punk-rock and dance-y post-punk for a sound that would be otherwise useless if it weren't for one thing: The boys got "it."
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