THE POODLES: "Performocracy"

Rating: 8/10

Label: Frontiers 2011

Review by Kimmo Toivonen

The fourth album by the ridiculously named Poodles has seen the light of day, and it continues on the same path as the band's previous albums. There are some slightly heavier moments than before, but the band's trademark anthemic choruses haven't been forgotten. The song material cannot match that of their last album "Clash Of The Titans", but I can't really call the album a disappointment either. Vocalist Jakob's high-pitched and somehow "tense" vocals are still something of an aquired taste, but I've grown to like them more over the years. The backing vocals are of the highest order, and the rest of the band are more than capable, so there's not much to complain about when it comes to the performances.

"Clash Of The Titans" is my favourite Poodle album so far, and it contained more than a few real killer tracks. On "Performocracy" the band manage to hit the bullseye a couple of times, but then again, there are several tracks that miss the mark. The best track of the album for me is the first single "Cuts Like A Knife", with "Father To A Son" and "Vampire's Call" following close behind. On the other hand, The heavy "I Believe In You" fails to impress, and the Coldplay-like "eerie" athmosphere of "Love Is All" leaves me totally cold. Just like "Clash Of The Titans", the album suffers a little of the fact that there are maybe 2 or 3 songs too many on it... there's a great, compact 10-song album worthy of a better rating in here, but I'll have to settle for an "8" as it is.

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