The Great Spy Experiment: Flower Show Riots (Riot Records/ Universal Music Singapore)

There are two kinds of bands in this world - those who are unafraid of success and have no qualms about having to work to achieve it, and those who make excuses for not trying.

With the almost deafening hype surrounding The Great Spy Experiment (GSE), even before they have an album out, it’s surely safe to say that they belong to the former category. Add to that their claims of having spent SG$50,000.00 to make this album, plus having the esteemed Howie Weinberg (who have mastered Nirvana’s Nevermind, plus albums by acts like The White Stripes, Beastie Boys, and Gorillaz) on board, expectations will definitely go sky high. However, a big budget can be almost as much a creative hindrance as a low budget would be.

Looking at this aspect of the album, I’d say that the mixing is unmistakably top notch, but I expected a bigger and fuller sound from a Howie Weinberg mastering job. So I’ll just be blunt – this does not sound like 50,000 bucks. A big budget does not a good album make, otherwise Roman Abramovich would’ve made a fair few already.

What makes a good album though, are things that don’t cost you a single cent, like good songwriting and spirited and honest playing. It’s in these departments that GSE truly show their class. Granted, the album’s got its fair share of uninspiring songs (“Dance With Me”, “Siti In The City”, “Flow”), but when they do take flight, like in the gorgeous “Late Night Request” and the already classic “Class ‘A’ Love Affair” (both on repeat on my CD player), they truly soar.

It’s also to their credit that performances on the album are nothing short of fresh and lively, considering the fact that they’ve been playing these same songs live for the past two years. Lesser bands would’ve sounded tired or bored in the studio given the same circumstances.

However, all this should not distract from the fact that this is still an okay-only album, no doubt a result partly because of the high expectations surrounding it. For all the hoopla, there are only about three or four good songs on an 11-song album. And two great songs do not make a great album. So for now, I’d say GSE has the makings to be a great singles band. As for being a great band, we’ll have to wait and see.

3 stars

Words Aidil

If you like this, also check out The Killers, Hot Hot Heat

www.myspace.com/thegreatspyexperiment

The Great Spy Experiment will be headlining Heineken Presents Impulse: A Junk Music Project on 10 November, 8pm at Terrance Bar, Zouk KL. Admission is free.