Celldweller
Soundtrack for the Voices in My Head


3.0
good

Review

by pizzamachine USER (635 Reviews)
March 29th, 2023 | 15 replies


Release Date: 2008 | Tracklist

Review Summary: It is Celldweller.

There are reasons why this album was never reviewed. One is that the album is completely forgettable. When I use the word completely, I do truly mean in completion. I remember attempting to review it at the time of its release, only to realize I forgot how the album sounded. Later on in life, I also forgot the album existed. After revisiting this album lately (my first time since the album was released), I can safely say I didn’t miss out. Brutal, but true.

The thing that makes this album special? There are hardly any vocals in it. “Yippee!” says Klayton in his cave, yet I am unconvinced of the musical integrity attached with his yippee. His supposed musical genius bit was cool for a bit until one realized Klayton only had one trick, and that was considerable programming. This album suffers greatly based on that notion, sounding like a man much to pleasured by his own work.

At the time of release Celldweller fans craved more Celldweller (waiting for ages for the next proper album), and all they got was this — Klayton playing with his computer and giving us his tinkly tinkers. That being said, there’s some good stuff occasionally. Certain tracks don’t sound like half-assed leftovers, or half-finished Celldweller singles that never saw the light of day. Certain tracks would be great to put in a soundtrack for eerie scenes that require a thick atmosphere. You see, when Klayton focuses his efforts outside of his atypical crunchy, generic guitars meet generic techno synthesizers magic is made. Sadly, magic isn’t made often enough in this album, with so many of the songs sounding like an uninspired retread/recycled product derivative of Switchback. At the very least, the album shows Klayton’s potential as a soundtrack producer. When the music hits right, the synths, strings and beats coincide in excellent rhythm to produce quite a soundscape, but more often than not, the tracks have throwaway drawing board energy.

There are great tracks within this bloated, extensively long album. However, you must wade through trash to find the gold. There is no cohesion — it is a collection of ideas. The album would’ve been infinitely better off with tracks that are finished, singing and screams included, and a less scatterbrained direction. This album is really just for diehard fans, and not worth a revisit. Time to forget this album exists — again.



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user ratings (71)
3.3
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
pizzamachine
March 29th 2023


27668 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Gotta love that Nirvana art.

tinathefatlard
March 29th 2023


2063 Comments


Only ever heard the song So Long, Sentiment off Blackstar or whatever it’s called. Cool song tho.

pizzamachine
March 29th 2023


27668 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Check the song Switchback man, it’s essential.

Manatea
Staff Reviewer
March 29th 2023


2072 Comments


Something tells me i probably wouldn’t like this.
But I always love me a pizza rev

cloakanddagger
March 29th 2023


764 Comments


Only song I remember from this album is Birthright, and that song ended up on wish upon a blackstar anyway.

cycosynner
March 29th 2023


176 Comments


Really dig the ST Celldweller release. Mostly unable to get into anything he's put out since.

Willie
Moderator
March 31st 2023


20311 Comments

Album Rating: 2.8

Not his best Celldweller album, and definitely not his best album under any moniker. I would recommend:



Argyle Park: Misguided (Remastered) (Fucking awesome album that even his fans don't know exists)

Circle of Dust: Circle of Dust (Remastered)

William21
March 31st 2023


922 Comments


That Argyle Park album is def a forgotten masterpiece

Willie
Moderator
March 31st 2023


20311 Comments

Album Rating: 2.8

If you've heard it, did you ever listen to the band Drown. Their debut, Hold on to the Hollow, is another forgotten masterpiece. Their vocalist did the song "Leave Me Alone" on the Argyle Park album.



What it is to Burn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdR3y79lcUo

Transparent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0rD0fHHb8E

Everything: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSKYWXP0Tfw

pizzamachine
March 31st 2023


27668 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Definitely forgot about Argyle Park. :/

Willie
Moderator
March 31st 2023


20311 Comments

Album Rating: 2.8

Sadly, no review for it. I think you'd like Drown, too. Check the songs I linked above.

William21
March 31st 2023


922 Comments


I've not heard Drown, no, but I remember them being a guest feature on Leave Me Alone

But yeah I do kinda feel like Klayton peaked in the early-to-mid 90's with Circle of Dust (both S/T and Brainchild) and Argyle Park. The Celldweller S/T is superb too, but nothing since then has been quite on that level

Willie
Moderator
March 31st 2023


20311 Comments

Album Rating: 2.8

I like the End of an Empire Celldweller release and the new Circle of Dust from 2016 was pretty good, too. Everything just kind of sounds similar these days. The new Circle of Dust was essentially Celldweller with more guitar.

William21
March 31st 2023


922 Comments


Yeah, End of an Empire and Machines of our Disgrace were both enjoyable for sure. Just not on the same level as what came before. And yeah, MooD was basically just Celldweller but with a lot of sampling and some Fear Factory-esque thrash.

I still haven't checked Satellites but the singles I heard sounded like he's basically just on autopilot at this point.

unlog1c
May 9th 2023


204 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

any Antisleep vol. >> Soundtrack for Voices vol.



Mini-Klayton outdoes him completely.



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