At the Drive-In Album: “Acrobatic Tenement [Enhanced]”

All the songs this CD encompasses have a true identity; this gives them a surreal power, specially when you account for the low recording budget. This low-budget production-feel also gives the CD an endearing charm to the band; who contended with all their hardships and made a gem of an album who has the most heart and passion that I've heard in a band of this genre.

If you just gives the songs a chance you will come to the conclusion that this is a perfect album (you can neither add nor subtract to the overall experience, to emerge with a better result).

if you ask me, this album is their best. i have heard all thier other stuff (including relationship) but none of it seems to capture the live experience that is at the drive-in. apparently they aren't too fond of this record, and they recorded it while drunk and stoned, but i think that is maybe why it is so good. it's crazy, energetic, creative, inspiring, and totally original.

This is an interesting album. When I first got into At The Drive-In a little over a year ago I didn't really care that much for this album. Over time though, this album has grown and grown on me until now when oddly enough it is now my favorite ATDI album.

The first spin of this album was a strange experience for me since I was used to ATDI's later material (ROC, Vaya) and The Mars Volta. I remember my initial thoughts being (1) it wasn't anywhere near as experimental or interesting and (2) it was a bit to emo for my tastes.

Over time though, I began to realize that even though it's not ATDI's most diverse or experimental album it is (to me) their best in terms of raw emotion and really showcases the bands talent behind all the effects. I became so infatuated with the album that I rarely put on any At The Drive-In album other than this one. Just listen to track like "Star Slight", "Initiation", "Ticklish", or "Portfolio Diaz" and tell me that this album isn't amazing.

You just have to listen to it in a different way than most other Cedric and Omar material because no, it's not really an experimental album and it doesn't rely so much on effects and the electronic side of their musical exploration. This album is a straight-ahead, no gimmicks, garage record with real emotion just bursting throughout the record.

Now, let me ask you: Is there anything more beautiful than that?

I have never heard a more raw-sounding, energetic album than this. It has to be my favorite ATD-I album, simply because it captures the essence of the band so well. The guitar is mostly played clean, giving a jangly metal sound which separates this album from the rest. Cedric's voice is great on this record - he admitted in an interview that he was stoned a lot of the time while making it and at some points he just made up the lyrics on the spot, which shows on some of the songs and makes them seem more live. Songs like 'Communication Drive-in', 'Skips on the Record' and 'Ticklish' all have catchy qualities about them and they each have interesting structures, which is a Drive-in trademark. And the fact that the production isn't perfect just adds to the raw feel of every song. Like the band once said, if you want every note hit perfectly you should go listen to N'sync. ATD-I are a very live, orginal band and 'Acrobatic Tenement' captures this perfectly.

2 1/2

There are a few sparkling seeds of abrasive greatness hinting at further gifts to come but the majority of angular, noisy sloppiness emanating from this frazzled neo-punk quintet had much to refine before achieving real power.