By Scatter
Scatter remind me of Ten Pence None The Richer of Dawson's Creek fame. On 'Shallow' seemingly teenage angelic vocals from lead singer Amanda ring out over a picky, plucky, jangly chorus-laden guitar and a laid-back rhythm section.
The songs are almost like nursery rhymes with simple melodies and lyrics of loves lost and life simply passing by like the waters running away in the aforementioned creek. Other tracks on the CD include opener 'Punked Bitch' - a swipe and a girl that's clearly pissed Amanda off - and 'Dreamer' which sees Scatter sound rather like everyone's favourite female fronted rockers Blondie.
All this is very nice and unashamedly inoffensive but it doesn't really do anything that makes me want to delve deeper into the world of Scatter. Overall it just lacks a little imagination in the tune dept. The band clearly has a talented singer and lyricist so maybe there'll be better to come.
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On 5th October 2005 at 12:43 Anonymous 96 wrote...
It's worth noting that there is a very fine Glasgow improvised music based band called Scatter - the drummer has been part of Leeds bands in the past I believe. At first I hoped this was a review of their excellent stuff. Sadly not.
On 5th October 2005 at 17:49 Anonymous 4784 wrote...
Message for Chris "Dullfuck".
Open your fucking ears - you obviously wouldn't know a melody if it hit you in the knackers!!!!
On 5th October 2005 at 18:01 Anonymous 4205 wrote...
Hi. And thanks.
I'm pretty sure I know a good tune when I hear one. And I have heard better. Sorry.
Still, I didn't think the review was particulary harsh. Please tell me where I went wrong?
On 5th October 2005 at 18:04 Dave LMS wrote...
It all started when you said my column in Sandman was rubbish, you're paying for that now 
On 5th October 2005 at 19:41 Anonymous 4784 wrote...
2 and a half fookin stars not harsh???!!! Gavin Miller understood!
On 6th October 2005 at 10:05 Anonymous 4205 wrote...
What's wrong with 2 and a half stars? That's half marks, 50 per cent, a C at A-level. Get over it for god's sake.
Harsh is a solitary half mark. And believe me it happens.
Golden rule: If you can't handle criticism then don't send your CD in for review!!
PS: Gavin Miller wouldn't know a melody if it hit you him in the knackers! I've seen his band. 
On 6th October 2005 at 16:32 Anonymous 4784 wrote...
But a bloody C when we're so obviously A students?!
On 6th October 2005 at 18:13 Anonymous 4205 wrote...
If you want a green tick, a well done and a special merit from me do some or all of the following:
1) Spend some cash on better production qualities.
2) Get someone objective to listen to your songs and give you honest feedback (personally I'd shorten a few tracks, speed things up a bit and beef up the songs with some more guitars - but hey, that's just me and we all like different stuff).
3) Write some more interesting material - the Alan Smith trick certainly worked on Gav - maybe that's the key for you?
4) Road test the CD to some people who know a bit about music before you send it for review. You'll have a good idea what kind of feedback it'll get then.
Just some thoughts. I'd normally give advice confidentially but you called me a "Dull Fuck" so what the hell.
I ain't a bastard, I was just giving what I felt was an honest and fair appraisal of your CD. It wasn't bad by any means, just kinda average in my opinion.
On 7th October 2005 at 12:47 Anonymous 96 wrote...
Chris, I think you have been very calm and helpful in accepting the responses posted by Scatter. Their reaction has convinced me that I would not be interested in their music. It was that kind of thougthlessness that made me stop wanting to write for LMS. It's good to see that you have more sense than me.
On 7th October 2005 at 14:30 Anonymous 30 wrote...
We miss you Sam...but then again I am now top of the writers/articles submitted chart so maybe I will enjoy the velvet cussioned throne for a while.
On 7th October 2005 at 15:29 Anonymous 1205 wrote...
So Scatter angry man. Do you have some online tunes for the ones (un)lucky enough not to have your CD can listen too and decide??
Having asked that I suppose I dont care, as I fully agree with Mr Saunders. Anyone who asks for a review and then chucks their Teddies out of the pram over a review is asking to be disliked.
This website has a lot of fans mate a decent chunk of the scene in Leeds utilise it. I cant see a arsey, " We are so obviously A students" attitude been a good thing.
And no I am not telling you to arselick. Only to have humility. Something which I think Chris has demostrated rather well in his handling of your abuse.
On 7th October 2005 at 16:46 Anonymous 4784 wrote...
Hi Guys
This is Mark Scatter... what's going on here? Good God, it's only rock n roll at the end of the day - Amanda Scatter needs to take criticism more gracefully, I would say. However, she sees her songs as her babies - over-protective mommas, eh?
For those who want to check us out, copy and paste the link below... we have just launched the website and it needs a bit of a tweak here and there! Some audio is on there too.
http://www.scatter-online.co.uk/
To answer some of the above points - please don't encourage me to add more guitars! There's about four overdubs on each of the demo tracks as it is... "Shallow" is layered to death with guitars and strings!
Finally, our aim is write three minute pop songs - we're not quite ready to do a William It Was Really Nothing trick just yet!!!
God bless you all.
