Review: Sick Puppies – ‘Tri-Polar’

Posted: July 27th, 2009
Contributed By: Nick

Purchase @ Amazon.com
Release Date: July 14th, 2009 via Virgin
Sick Puppies is:
Shimon Moore (Vocals/Guitar)
Emma Anzai (Bass)
Mark Goodwin (Drums)

Overview: Maybe it was fate that brought Australian band Sick Puppies to the forefront of American rock music. Or maybe it was taking home YouTube’s 2006 Video of the Year Honors for their Free Hugs concept “video postcard” which featured the band’s first single “All the Same.” Either Way, Shimon Moore, Emma Anzai, and Mark Goodwin have carved out quite a niche for themselves ever since reaching the states with their 2007 debut ‘Dressed Up As Life’, hauling more than 150,000 units of the trio’s rookie effort. After Sick Puppies took the necessary time to grieve the loss of Shimon Moore’s mother, the band settled in to sketch out album two. Working through the winter and early spring, Sick Puppies concocted ‘Tri-Polar’, the group’s latest offering produced by Skidd Mills, Tim James, et al. Listen for “You’re Going Down”, the first single off ‘Tri-Polar’ on your local rock station. Catch Sick Puppies headlining this summer with guests Hurt and The Veer Union.

The Good: ‘Tri-Polar’ begins its antithetical scrape with the incendiary “War”, driven by rumbling, down-tuned riffage and the fully involved snarling of Shim Moore. The pleasantly titled “I Hate You” houses dark, atmospheric verses underpinned by a meaty bass tone, which explode at the song’s choruses, detonated by stern quarter-note chug-a-lugs and capped off with sharp, fierce resolves that come full circle for a bombastic finale. “Riptide” crashes ashore with the beautiful opening line, “You all hate your children/they’re too fat to feed”. Breezy and socially conscious, “Riptide” boasts a rhythmic chorus chockfull of chromatic punches. Lead batter “You’re Going Down” seethes throughout its verses before erupting into riotous choruses, a pairing made fluid courtesy of Mr. Moore’s sage delivery. Following a sonic, enveloping bridge, “You’re Going Down” simply, yet effectively, drops out into silence, after offering a palate refresher of its chorus without going through all the motions. Lady E kick-starts “Odd One” with 6/8 bass play, bolstered by gentle guitar strums. “Odd One” grows up to be not only soaring and hulky but a brainiac as well, thanks to the reverse dynamics heard in its chunky, brilliant bridge. The throbbing roar of “So What I Lied” might be the best ‘Dressed Up As Life’ refresher on ‘Tri-Polar’. “So What I Lied” hosts an epic bridge, where an all-star nu-metal riff is coupled with tribal drum beats and frosted with an angelic re-entry into the song’s pulse. Pressed for time? Maybe a little pissed off? Get your ass from 3:04 to 3:22 of “So What I Lied”, enjoy, and thank me later. “Survive” survives its three minute jubilee by keeping the sizzle jumpin’-jumpin’ from top to bottom. Strategically fogging up and burying Shim’s voice in the mix a touch gives “Survive” an added tightness, which unravels in a bright, flourishing chorus. Roiling and toe-tapping, “Should’ve Known Better” is a slave to the downbeat, a simply stylish cut with a stunningly sexy outro. “Maybe” is painted in a lush, ambient coat, the ethereal track’s character rounded out with loads of good, dramatic foreshadowing, a sun-kissed chorus, and a hopeful, for-the-better attitude. Don’t walk away from “Don’t Walk Away”, because although quite folky and a smooth, melancholic experience, “Don’t Walk Away” still encapsulates Sick Puppies’ signature jilted angst. Hop until you drop with the bouncy “Master Of the Universe”. The synergy of bassist Emma Anzai and Mark Goodwin is impressive, each perfectly matching the other’s double-strokes. I most love the direction Sick Puppies take with “Master Of the Universe”—instead of striking with their usual chip-on-the-shoulder, the three focus on a creating a colorful melody and an eclectic core, a success completed with a prog-ish ending that flat out rules. ‘Tri-Polar’ has a definite sleeper in “In It For Life”. All four minutes of the penultimate number are drenched in an underlying catchiness that is hard to ignore, offering a sound that is equal parts, fresh, quirky, and smart; if you hear only one thing from ‘Tri-Polar’, make sure it’s the finale of “In It For Life.” Sick Puppies close the book on their sophomore opus with the porcelain Shim/Emma duet “White Balloons”. Bursting with a bevy of prog-rock nuances, vibrant rhetoric, and absolutely superior dynamics, “White Balloons” could quickly become one of the most celebrated and respected pieces of Sick Puppies’ repertoire. Not once does “White Balloons” sound calculated, coached, or influenced, a bracing, all-natural stream of consciousness that retires ‘Tri-Polar’ humbly, yet full of savvy.

The Bad: By the time the bridge of “War” arrives, you might feel just the same way Sick Puppies seem to: lost and not too interested in what’s going on. “I Hate You” is not a bad song, just a boring, uninspiring song that we’ve all heard before. “Riptide” is Sick Puppies’ finest rendition of “Brain Stew”, and do you really want to rehash another band rehashing “Brain Stew”? Regardless, the dynamics of “Riptide” would have benefitted greatly from running with the ambient segues of both the bridge as well as the final chorus. One of Shim’s rare vocal flaws arises out of “Odd One”, where his sudden rise in pitch feels too abrupt, too late. I find the bridge of “Survive” to be rather peculiar, a progression mirrored in the outro for a giant letdown, especially after Shimon’s cry, “Now bring this fuckin’ place down!” Make sure you drive home “Don’t Walk Away” before you drive onward through ‘Tri-Polar’, and you may notice that a certain Incubus classic seems to drive this song. Overall, ‘Tri-Polar’ is just okay, nothing special, not terrible, but not amazing.

Bottomline: Sick Puppies do their thing on ‘Tri-Polar’ and I have to hand it to the band for reaching within themselves, pulling out their blood, sweat, desire, hardship, and heartbreak, and balling it up into 46 minutes of raw, impassioned, adrenaline-filled feral emotion. Too bad ‘Tri-Polar’ is not nearly as moving as Sick Puppies make it out to be.

TuneLab Rating: 6.5 out of 10

46 thoughts on “Review: Sick Puppies – ‘Tri-Polar’”

  2. Am I looking at this wrong, or does it say “Steadlur” underneath the Sick Puppies album on the right?

    I would personally give this album a 7.5/10. It’s pretty solid. “Riptide” is my favorite track.

  3. I don’t agree completely with the review nor do I agree that 6.5 is a good rating for this album. I felt it’s at least a 8 or 8.5 for sure. Only a few spots in the album I don’t like and it’s all grown on me after a few listens. I apparently liked it more than you. :) What happened to the ratings for us to click our rating for it?

  4. I actually would have gave it a 5-6. To me it only has two stand out tracks and those are “Maybe” and “Don’t Walk Away” and even those don’t compare to anything off their debut.

  7. first time through the album, i would give it a 5 – sorely disappointed. i bought into all the hype surrounding it and expected so much more. then after realizing its wasn’t a great album and gave it a few more listens just trying to salvage something, i give it a 7. War is a terrible song, with the sound quality on it being atrocious.

  9. I’m with Mich. I usually agree with you Nick but I’m going to disagree here. This album is absolutely fantastic. No chance it deserves this low of a score.

  10. Gotta say I dont agree either. I wasn’t going to buy this album when I first saw it at the store. But after I scanned it for shits and giggles, and gave it a chance, it had some really solid tunes on it. I think this album really shows their heavier side, and has a much more “raw” feeling then their first album. At the LOWEST, I’d give it an 8.

  11. Compare this album to the last and sadly it is not in the same class at all. I loved ‘Dressed Up as Life’ and this new record is nowhere near as good.

    The first few tracks are all over the place. What kind if band do they actually want to be is what I thought after hearing tracks 1-3.

    The only decent songs on it are the two songs that would not of looked out of place on the last album,which are ‘Dont Walk Away’ and ‘Mabye’.

    The band need to do more of these type of songs if they want to progress in my honest opinion.

  14. Hey AltRockMan, I respect your opinion, and it makes sense, but I tend to like variety in my music. I love the fact that Sick Puppies were able to transition from song to song by making it sound different or unique. If I listen to an album where every song sounds the same…whether it’s the lyrics, the melody or the music, chances are I am not going to like it. I think Sick Puppies knows exactly what kind of band they are…and that is a band with the ability to create a variety of very compelling tracks.

  15. I am going to stick with the majority here and say that this is a terrific album. I would give it an 8.5-9. Not a complete masterpiece, but I can’t find much wrong with the album; and it’s a really great listen. And I think salastna’s comment says it all.

  17. I don’t know if all you guys are listening to the same album I am. “Dressed Up As Life” was a fantastic debut, with literally every song perfectly complimenting the next in a natural progression from heavy to acoustic, screaming to a whimper, and vice versa. Every song was good enough to stand on its own and make an impression.
    After listening to this album in one sitting yesterday, I found myself confused and disappointed. Firstly, SP have altered their sound from melodic alt-rock with a near constant vocal restraint to heavier open bars and seemingly forced soft interludes for the verses, along with Shimon preferring to growl and scream than exercise his angelic voice. A lot of the songs are indistinguishable at first because they all seem to involve the phrases “face on the floor” and “my fist”. It struck me the same way Nonpoint’s latest album did – I kept having to check my mp3 player to make sure what I was listening to wasn’t still the same song I thought had just ended. Never had that problem with “Dressed Up As Life”.
    Not that the album isn’t good or doesn’t have amazing songs. “Don’t Walk Away” is a great refresher, and “White Balloons” literally made me gasp when Emma’s voice floated through my speakers. It just feels like Sick Puppies are too pissed off and don’t have enough different words to describe it. 6.5-7/10 for me.

  21. i can accept the rating here. i was expecting more, and its definately not a maturity from their first album. the first album was very technical, very detail oriented; most first albums are as the artists usually have their whole lives to write it. the bridges were especially stunning in the first album, and that is not the case here. its the prototypical sophomore slump…as all the best ideas were already used up. i like it, but its a step backward from dressed up as life.

  25. Riptide has one of the best choruses I’ve heard in a while, that song is incredible. Overall, I think it is a very solid album, at least as good as the first. War sucks, but most of the other songs are very good, and the production really helps bring out the intensity as well.

  26. In Sick Puppies’ cover of “say my name”, they put out an even better rendition of “brain stew” than they do in “riptide” which is kind of ironic

  30. I disagree entirely about the review, but hey I like ballads this was a good album to me as well as ear shattering guitar solos and instrumentals.
    But everyone has a certain taste in music
    I give this album an 9/10

  33. their first CD was completely unremarkable, no horrible songs, but certainly no really good ones. My brother says their new one kicks ass though, so I will give it a try with an open mind.

  34. i think this album deserves between about an 8.5. Very solid album, different shades of songs. The reason not slightly higher is because it has a lot of the same lyrical themes and som similar phrases. It is a MUCH better album than their first. ‘Dressed Up As Life’ had some solid singles, and maybe better lyricism, but it had nowhere near the compassion and nowhere near the catchiness. Overall, a refreshing rock album, a bit heavier than the norm of the genre, but I’m sure if they beef up the lyrics a bit they’ll be a 9-10 star band!

  35. sorry, forgot to add:
    “Should’ve Known Better”, “You’re Going Down”, “White Balloons” & “Maybe” are my favourites. But I love the whole album.

  36. A refreshing rock album indeed black my friend. I’d give it a 7.5, a solid album. Some songs weaker then others War being a catchy rile you up lets go jump off a bridge for fun type of song but simple. Despite similar sounds between some of the songs Sick Puppies seem to deliver there own flair to the game, a sound that tickles your ears…. the non-penis rubbing way. I always enjoy Shim’s voice. Favourite songs include:
    “So What I Lied”, “Riptide” and “White Balloons”.

    Please note: Jumping off bridge after hearing “War” May lead to injury and/or death and penis rubbing on earlobes…. not a good thing.

  39. I’d give this album a solid 10, Tri-Polar has been my favorite album of the year and with time it might even become one of my favorite albums ever. This record is fantastic, it’s got everything you could want in a great rock album. Whether you want to hear some loud angry rock (So What I Lied, Survive, and I Hate You) or some really catchy slower songs (Maybe, Don’t Walk Away, and White Balloons). The album is epic and Sick Puppies are a band you have to see live if you get a chance. I love Dressed Up As Life but this album is definitely better, both great albums though. Sick Puppies are one of the best rock bands out there right now.

  40. as I said earlier, I’d listen to this with an open mind, and… I just don’t like this band. At all. Don’t like any songs on either of their CD’s. I don’t know what everyone sees in them. None of the tunes grab you, like a great rock song should. Oh well, to each their own.

  41. I dunno how these songs can’t grab you feck? Seriously, They are like the epitome or catchy mainstream rock, with a little more pizazz and kick than normal. Like Nickelback on jet fuel, and a live perfomrnace, and decent riffs, and some nice drumming, and a singer who isn’t a douche bag. So really it’s more lik jet fuel, and not at all like Nickelback. lol.

  43. No one here actually seems to know anything about the band. A simple Google search will tell you that this is not their second album. It is in fact their third. There was a prior album in 2001 with a rare (3000 copies, at least one on the Internet, ^.^) called, “Welcome To The Real World.” “The more you know!”

    Their first album had some serious influence from bands like Rage Against The Machine and Shimon’s Australian accent shines through more so than the two following albums. The first album is a bit more rough around the edges, as well. The third album is really them taking their roots and combining it with their evolution and progressing even further with it. Tri-Polar is a really polished album for a third album.

    I am really sad that this band is being compared to Nickleback, the scourge and scum of the “rock” music industry. This is especially disheartening considering the amount of talent this band has shown in the past and in this album. And it’s being disregarded simply because they’ve actually got some catchy tunes. Catchy is immediately bad. It’s fine to be talented, as long as it’s not catchy? Sorry, Friedrich Schiller, “Ode To Joy” is the epitome of catchy mainstream odes. But seriously, Dale K., I terrified that you can’t distinguish Sick Puppies from other rock bands.

    P.S. Congratulations, AltRockMan, for being a complete tool.

    • Actually I’m more than certain people know they have an independent release, it’s just not usual to include it when discussing major label work. Unless it’s a label like Tooth And Nail or Suburban Noize or Victory Records, rarely will you see an independent release discussed in terms of a band’s major label track record.

      • But it is part of their track record, major label or not. It was their first studio album and it gained them their popularity in Australia to begin with, not to mention that it defined who they are and where they come from.

        Irregardless, stating that their first album was much more technical than their second, without ever taking into account their actual first, is a pretty shallow statement to begin with.

        • Sick Puppies Released an Ep after the Australian Release and if it was truly that remarkable they would of just re-mastered it and re released it like some other bands have done.

          Tri-Polar = 9.9/10

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