Midway / Fist Full of Quarters
Album: Fist Full of Quarters   Collection:General
Artist:Midway   Added:Dec 2004
Label:<No Label Info>  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2005-01-16 Pull Date: 2005-03-20
Week Ending: Feb 20 Feb 13 Jan 30
Airplays: 1 1 2

Recent Airplay
1. Feb 18, 2005: Midnight Meanderings
Shadows
3. Jan 26, 2005: The Panoply
Tabe Tai
2. Feb 06, 2005: Robot Talent Show
Shadows
4. Jan 23, 2005: Robot Talent Show
Shadows

Album Review
Peter Porcino
Reviewed 2005-02-06
Midway – Fist Full of Quarters


FCC: #2
Straight-up 80’s pop, Meatloafian drama in the vocals and videogame synthesizing with extra flavors of Japan and modern rock make a surprisingly good combination. I usually have a visceral revolt against music like this, but I must admit that I enjoyed these five songs. They’re slightly cheesy, but not in a stereotypically J-Pop way (except, maybe, #5, which is also cheesy in an American way). The songs all follow the same musical formula of drums and distorted electric guitar providing the backbone, synthesized melodies on top, and good, energetic female vocals in the spotlight.
While all songs are nearly the same quality, I singled out 1,2,4. One has a somewhat darker, more polished feel than the other tracks. 2 would make a good Halloween song, but watch the FCC. 4’s got the Japanese going for it and is more subtly complex than it first seems along with social commentary. Try them all if you’re looking for this kind of pop.

1. * (4:10) Upbeat, rockin’ ‘80s pop song. Sassy female vocals singing about drugs, love and what goes on in the shadows. Lyrics not bad. Simple, heavy guitars and drums – synthesized melody. Longer than necessary, but not painfully so.
2. * (2:40) FCC: “fucking” Fast song with high-strung, squeaky female vocals. Song about animating the dead in the style of Dr. Frankenstein. Again, lyrics are surprisingly good, nice synth effects at end.
3. (3:01) Starts with slow, heavy guitar riff. Drums keep the song fast and upbeat despite guitars. Synthesizers playing NES midi’s. Lyrics a bit weaker on this one.
4. * (3:10) Starts with announcement in Japanese, lyrics are in Japanese (“I want to eat food”). Sounds like modern Quebecois music. English lyrics at 1:20 about corporate corruption leading us to need refreshment(s), kind of amusing, near-rap. Has a nice, more modern guitar riff, but synthesizers keep the feel in the ‘80s.
5. (2:50) Overdramatic song about computers. Frantic pace until a Guns N’ Roses slow-down at 2:30. Slows down again at 2:15 with “Mr. Roboto” synthesized voice. Continually exchanges between these three levels. Again, not bad if taken light-heartedly.


~Peter 12-14-2004

Track Listing
1. Shadows   3. Space Station
2. Electricity   4. Tabe Tai
  5. Connection