Most people probably know the Sneaker Pimps by the band’s biggest commercial success, the single “6 Underground,” even if they don’t know it’s the Pimps they’re listening to. The song has been featured on the soundtrack of numerous films, including “Cruel Intentions” and “The Saint.”
The popularity of the single was largely because of the haunting and gorgeous voice of the lead singer, Kelli Dayton. Unfortunately, Dayton has since left the band, which means that “Bloodsport,” the latest Sneaker Pimps album, isn’t instantly recognizable as a product by the same band.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; in fact, the album is a great listen – an interesting retro work which manages to sound futuristic at the same time.
The group is one of the last of the slowly dying British trip-hop trend, which included Portishead, Morcheeba and, most famously, Moby. The Pimps combine their signature grainy background noise with a driving mixture of drums, keyboard and other instruments and noises to create their original sound.
Drummer Chris Corner has taken over on vocals. His voice seems, at first listen, to be an odd amalgamation of the voices of some of Britain’s most popular singers – Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Oasis’ Liam Gallagher, for example. But his vocals fit well with the music and eventually gain a distinctive Gothic quality.
“Bloodsport” opens with the driving beat and intense voice of Corner on the track “Kiro TV,” an enjoyable song featuring one of the only instances of a female voice on the album.
Next up is the first single released from the album, the infectious “Sick.” Here, Corner’s voice alternates between gravely and fluttery, which works surprisingly well. The song is likely to become a college and independent radio staple with its edgy yet catchy hook.
It’s hard to choose, but the album’s best song is “Black Sheep,” a nearly-pop tune with lyrics that seem to sum up the album as a whole – “If you see me you’ll be crossing the street/Or kick me and then leave me to bleed/If looks could kill wouldn’t need all the pills/But I take what it needs to be easy with the black/sheep now.”
The remainder of the tracks add up to a fantastic soundtrack for working out – kinetic music that constantly pounds forward.
For a really trippy experience, go to www.sneakerpimps.com, click on the “news” link, skip to track number 5, “Loretta Young Silks M’aidez,” turn it way up, and zone out for a few minutes while random hand-drawn images rapidly flash by. It’ll be somewhat akin to watching “2001” in fast-forward while listening to Massive Attack.
The Sneaker Pimps may not make waves with this album – the trip-hop fans of the early ’90s have most likely moved on to new musical pastures. But it’s a solid effort nonetheless, and one that holds up, continuing to create new energy listen after listen.
