Personnel: Nic Offer (vocals, guitar, keyboards); John Pugh (vocals, bass guitar, drums, percussion); Madeline Davies, Olivia Mori, Shannon Funchess, Molly Schnick, Phyllis Forbes (vocals); Mario Andreoni (guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, percussion); Tyler Pope (guitar, synthesizer, bass guitar, drum programming); Eric Emm (E-bow); Amy Cimini (viola); Heather Sommerlad, Lori Told, Adele Mori (strings); Allan Wilson (horns, synthesizer, percussion); Daniel Gorman (horns, synthesizer, background vocals); Jared Samuel (Clavinet); Justin van der Volgen (bass guitar); Dayvan Duronslet, David Weiss , Joseph Baldbridge, John Blake (drums).
Audio Mixers: Justin van der Volgen; Eric Emm; Chris Woodhouse; Joshua Ryan; Brothers .
Recording information: A House In Nashville, TN; Brothers Studio; Club Taffe; Hangar.
With 2007's MYTH TAKES, the Brooklyn-based dance-punk octet !!! (aka Chk Chk Chk) presents an outing that's notably more accessible and immediately engaging that its predecessors. Not only have frontman Nic Offer and company reined in the excessive swearing (see the expletive-laden LOUDEN UP NOW), they have imbued their brand of robot rock with added elasticity and energy, as best revealed on the fast-paced opening title track, which coasts along on a twangy surf/spaghetti Western vibe, and the pulsing, club-ready "Heart of Hearts."
However, those worried that the ensemble has dulled its mischievous edge will be reassured by the searing, frenetic "All My Heroes Are Weirdos" and the atmospheric, groove-steeped "Bend Over Beethoven," two tunes that prove that !!!'s blatantly quirky and experimental side has been toned down, but not forgotten. For those intrigued by !!!, but put off by the band's uber-hipster archness, MYTH TAKES may be the point where they join in the party.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (p.81) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Expertly modulated tension-and-release and modest atmospherics are routinely deployed on their third album..."
Spin (p.86) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "MYTH TAKES juxtaposes tribal post-punk with crooked attempts at actual pop, giving their epic groove-riders a booty-stimulating boost."
Entertainment Weekly (p.109) - "These guys are all about the groove, and when they're on -- as on 'Bend Over Beethoven' and 'Heart of Hearts' -- few can match their percussive intensity." -- Grade: B
Q (p.116) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[F]rontman Nic Offer remains an underrated vocalist, adding contorted yelps to 'All My Heroes Are Weirdos' and a disco falsetto on 'Sweet Life.'"
Alternative Press (p.192) - 4.5 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he Brooklyn octet haven't lost an iota of edginess, funk or raucousness. !!! have crafted their most accessible and uncompromising."
Magnet (p.90) - "!!! sidles up to Hendrix-worthy wah-wah funk, finger-wagging dance jams and ghostly sound collages..."
The word is that !!! (pronounced chk chk chk, for the last time), like LSD, is best first experienced somewhere comfortable surrounded by lots of supportive people i.e. in the live arena. But let’s not advocate illegal activity: if it’s contagious punk-funk you want then Myth Takes is the ultimate party drug. There are the early bangers (‘Myth Takes’, ‘All My Heroes Are Weirdos’), the ultimate moment of realisation (‘Heart of Hearts’), the numb haziness that follows (‘Bend Over Beethoven’) and even a painful lull towards the end of the album! Should you last the distance !!! will reward you many times over.
