[OPPOSING VIEW] Crystal Castles Is a Frail Imitation of Itself, On ‘Frail’

[OPPOSING VIEW] Crystal Castles Is a Frail Imitation of Itself, On ‘Frail’

[OPPOSING VIEW] Crystal Castles Is a Frail Imitation of Itself, On ‘Frail’

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BRING HER BACK.

Crystal Castles fans are a passionate bunch. This coming from a superfan that cried for 3 hours in a Bangkok internet cafe when they broke up last October. Heartbroken was not the proper adjective. I wrote this. And then I felt like the world was saying ‘untrust us’ and a knifed bandit was going on a ‘crimewave’, gutting me of all feeling. Intestines swinging by the mouse I dropped on the floor. The keyboard with the busted n and o as I pounded a piece of my mind’s flesh into those keys so hard to give what was left of my mind. A passionate bunch we are, yes.

We all don’t always agree on things. Earlier The Sights and Sounds covered Ethan’s new track under the CC moniker ‘Frail’. But I’m ‘displeased’ so much of Crystal Castles’ coverage borders on near sexism where Alice Glass was ‘just’ a singer and Ethan was the brains behind it all. It smacks of ‘stand behind your man’ from the woman who scorned him. Especially as that man keeps on being a massive a-hole in public. Band breakups are acrimonious. But this was epic level douchery:

“i wish my former vocalist the best of luck in her future endeavors. i think it can be empowering for her to be in charge of her own project. it should be rewarding for her considering she didn’t appear on Crystal Castles’ best known songs.

(she’s not on Untrust Us. Not In Love, Vanished, Crimewave, Vietnam, Magic Spells, Knights, Air War, Leni, Lovers Who Uncover, Violent Youth, Reckless, Year of Silence, Intimate, 1991, Good Time, Violent Dreams etc.). people often gave her credit for my lyrics and that was fine, i didn’t care.”

Conveniently that ignores ‘Baptism‘ and all the popular tracks from III. And, sorry, dude, but ‘Violent Youth’ was not the standout well known track from that album: ‘Plague’, Affection, , Wrath of God and ‘Sad Eyes’ were. All of which were miles beyond this.

Plus, the coverage isn’t true of the way art gets made between two people, either. Your partners inspire you, scare the shit out of you by knowing how to get you raw. The new Crystal Castles track is a ‘frail’ imitation of what was before: it’s a poor version of ‘Plague’ with literal bits of ‘kerosene’ mixed in. It doesn’t ignite, just sits there and whimpers. Much like Ethan is doing in public. Without them you can lose a piece of you. Your art, suffers. Especially if you don’t admit it to yourself. The new track is reminiscent of the diminished quality that Keep in Shelly Athens’ suffered post Sara P. leaving. Try to repeat the formula, but it lacks the power that a person’s even presence can give you.

BEFORE KEEP SHELLY IN ATHENS (WITH SARA P):

AFTER KEEP SHELLY IN ATHENS (POST SARA P):

BEFORE CRYSTAL CASTLES (WITH ALICE GLASS):

AFTER CRYSTAL CASTLES (POST ALICE GLASS):

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Kavi Senior Editor. Currently based in Bangkok. I review dark indietronica/pop with my signature style of delving into the sexuality, sensuality and emotionality of every song. If you'd like me to premiere your track, contact me at the email below or at soundcloud.com/discordbeing