Blender


  1. Why Pt. 2 (13)
  2. Perfect Day (24)
  3. After All (55)
  4. 10 Year Later (62)
  5. Turn Around (69)
  6. Boast (70)
  7. Over Tokyo (80)
  8. Skin (102)
  9. Happiness (103)
  10. Vent (105)
  11. You Speak My Language (106)
I actually used to get the titles of Blender and Dosage confused.  All I could remember for sure is that they were consecutive one word album titles.  It also has the distinct pleasure of matching the self-titled's achievement of having the top two ranked songs.  Only in this case it's the BOTTOM two ranked songs.  (Quite an achievement I know.)  And that is the only thing Blender has in common with CS's best two albums, because this one is most-assuredly not one of them.  

When I think of CS, I think of positive, up-lifting music.  Even if it's about a sad topic, there is always hope; a light at the end of the tunnel if you will.  This album is very angry, and I don't like angry CS.  

So why were they angry?  Both Roland brothers were going through divorces with their wives at this time.  Also, and I think more profoundly, they were having a nasty break-up with their record label and were pissed at the world.  And the result is Blender.  Clearly bad times calls for bad tunes.  

Not that it is all gloom and doom here.  Why Pt. 2 is an awesome song.  It's their one Blender song in the top 20.  Perfect Day is great as well, just missing out of the top 20 at number 24.  I find it really fascinating that Elton John has a guest spot on that song.  Musically he fits in just find with CS, but they just seem too small of band for someone as famous as he to be collaborating with them.  Regardless the outcome is another one of the two bright spots on this dreadful album.  

Four of the bottom five songs in their catalog are on this record.  Seriously think about that.  I'm not even going to mention them by name because they are so terrible, but obviously you can just read them up at the top.  This fact is yet another record CS has set here with this project.  I seriously hope no other band I do has one album that contains four of the bottom five songs on one album.  It's so depressing. 

I also haven't even mentioned that the album as a whole has more of an "electronic" feel to it.  This didn't go over well the fans or myself.  You can even hear a bit of it in the intro of Why Pt. 2, but obviously it's not bad enough to distract from the song.  Other songs aren't so lucky, and their rankings reflect as much.  Now if you're a fan of that style of music, then good for you.  I however, don't want that sound anywhere near my CS.  

Ironically, in the end this isn't my lowest ranked album.  We'll get to it eventually, but it isn't considered as much of a flop as Blender is.  This was right in CS's prime, so it's a lot more unforgivable, but considering their personal affairs, and how they would rebound (granted it would take four years) they are given a pass after all.  (Pun intended)   

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