The Glass

At Swim Two Birds (Plant Music)

By Roxanna Bennett
Published: November 22nd, 2010 | 7:04am

Based in Berlin and New York City, the Glass are Dominique Keegan and Glen Brady (aka DJ Wool). After releasing many singles and a 7-track EP in 2007, At Swim Two Birds is their debut full-length, and maybe they should have just stuck with the singles. This is a brutally dull album to listen to if you aren’t in a club and inclined to dance to just about anything pumping through the speakers. On its own, it’s an aural tranquilizer. Each track blends into the next with little to distinguish them from each other as relentless beats turn into relentless boredom.

“Wanna Be Dancin” is #16 on the German Club charts but indication of the listenability, sounding as though it features the “Woo! Yeah!” Lyn Collins sample that anchored Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rocks’ 1988 giant “It Takes Two.” That obnoxiously infectious background noise can’t save this song. The vocals are decent but seem like they should be layered on top of totally different music.

Many of the basslines on the album sound like they were sampled directly from early Duran Duran, then mashed into a strange marriage with ‘80s house music. “Is It Me?” sounds like a stab at adding substance to an album that is slickly superficial. “Surrender” has some intriguing moments, and the lyrics for “Michael McDonald” are amusing. Overall, though, At Swim Two Birds sounds dated and irrelevant, as though it was found in the rubble of the aftermath of the last house party on earth.

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The Glass official site

The Glass MySpace page

Plant Music Records