Suzi:Won - Bleak Ends [Single]

**MattWillis** · 12:27 AM

I am currently banging my head against the wall over British bands that insist on putting on fake American accents! Imagine how hilarious it would be if Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson starting to release records sounding like Chas & Dave – this must be what it is like for Yanks listening to a lot of our new music. Perhaps it makes the music more likeable for 13 year old girls, but I have just checked, and confirm that I am not one, so I am okay to say that I think that it sounds a bit shit. This is my call to arms – People in bands, please please please start using your normal voice and style because it’s getting pretty embarrassing now. Lostprophets did it years ago and succe Musiceded in America, granted, but for all that people say about that nation I think that they have wised up a little now as they are currently lapping up the sheer ‘Britishness’ of the new generation of pop stars.

This massive issue aside, Suzi:Won (pronounded ‘Suzi Colon Won’? Let’s hope not) are not a bad band and ‘Bleak Ends’ is a track that’s hot to trot. Once you can see through the dodgy 80’s inspired synth intro into the thrashing pre-verse and the verse itself that’s lashed in a synth spiralling into oblivion, this track just gets more and more likable. With such a powerful singalong chorus however, the atmospheric middle eight section unfortunately slows the pace of the track and relaxes the mood a little too much for my liking. Soulwax inspired handclaps are perhaps laid on a little heavy at the end of the verse and sound forced, but could be more effective is used sparingly and appropriately. In all, a great band that will slot nicely into the new generation of power pop with the likes of Will It Fly, Attack! Attack!, Saidmike etc – if they can lose the accent.....

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bumstead13 · Comment Posted on: July 11, 2009, 03:41 PM

If they sing in their normal accents they'd sound like an electro maximo park..
A Newcastle accent sounds stupid when you sing in it.
Therefore i think they should stick with how they sound.

jack s · Comment Posted on: July 12, 2009, 12:14 AM

Think i join you on this:

I am currently banging my head against the wall over British bands that insist on putting on fake American accents!

Can't be anything more annoying

altsounds · Comment Posted on: July 12, 2009, 09:30 AM

I dunno I kind of agree with bumstead. People too often treat music like real life, particularly vocals. I see the voice as an instrument and the American accent is more pleasing to the ear than one of the over the top British accents (Newcastle, Liverpoool, Scottish etc) so they use an american twang to make their band sound better - I can totally get on that.

In Bleed Electric we use A LOT of autotune. It's not cause I can't sing, far from it it's that I like the way the output of the autotune sounds from a tonal perspective. I don't really see how a british band singing in an American accent can be punishable, again this is not real life it is music and Suzi:Won are blatantly just trying to do whatever they can to make their band sound the best it can.

jack s · Comment Posted on: July 12, 2009, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by altsounds

I dunno I kind of agree with bumstead. People too often treat music like real life, particularly vocals. I see the voice as an instrument and the American accent is more pleasing to the ear than one of the over the top British accents (Newcastle, Liverpoool, Scottish etc) so they use an american twang to make their band sound better - I can totally get on that.

In Bleed Electric we use A LOT of autotune. It's not cause I can't sing, far from it it's that I like the way the output of the autotune sounds from a tonal perspective. I don't really see how a british band singing in an American accent can be punishable, again this is not real life it is music and Suzi:Won are blatantly just trying to do whatever they can to make their band sound the best it can.

I can understand where your coming from, autotune is a digitally creative effect, an American accent is just easy to put on in any vocals. Pretty much any lead singer could sing like that and it's just irritating. It kind of changes your image on the band. If the lead singer sings in a heavy american accent, then starts talking to the crowd in a thick scottish accent then it kind of ruins the image. I'm not saying that you should HAVE to sing where you are from, but it just seems to be easier for bands to play on the teen rock images with the american accent.

Heron · Comment Posted on: July 12, 2009, 02:30 PM

It may sound good in an American accent but it's just plain embarrassing when, like Jack says, a singer sings in a strong American accent, and then chats to the crowd with a Scottish one (for example).

Actually whilst referring to those two accents, it's interesting that Roddy Woomble from Idlewild used to sing in a strong, whiney American accent on their first two albums, and then switched to singing naturally, so at times his Scottish accent would come through. We can speculate on the reasons why, but it is obvious, partly through his music, that he is proudly Scottish nowadays. I think perhaps he felt that singing in another accent was like denying his heritage. Or perhaps he just matured and stopped wishing he was actually in an American band.

I actually think the Scottish accent is really beautiful one to sing in, and most respectible Scottish bands/artists sing in their own accent.

Thinking of the Gallaghers, who have strong Manchester accents, Liam may sing in a Manchester accent, but Noel just sings in a fairly neutral accent. He doesn't feel the need to sing in an American accent, and why should he?

Each to their own, but in summary, I think it's a little embarrassing and a lot of genuine artists seem to agree. I have seen/heard it mentioned in many interviews.

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> Home > Reviews | Suzi:Won - Bleak Ends [Single]

Suzi:Won - Bleak Ends [Single]

Feet Casino Records

February 22, 2009, 06:51 PM

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