Naught

My love for Stolen Babies (hee hee) began when they came up on a Last.fm station I was tuned in to, as wonderful little discoveries of this sort really often do. I was taken in by just how far out 'Mind Your Eyes' was put together and how it sounded, and I loved the look of the band members themselves, so I did some further digging into their style on the 'nets. A number of Youtube'd tracks and one excellent live show (complete with CD purchase and fantastic bumper sticker) later, and my love for them was firmly cemented! The CD was There Be Squabbles Ahead, and it just got listen after listen after listen.So. Here's. Naught.What for me was a waiting period of months seemed like a lifetime, what with all the teasing and anticipation involved in the process. As with Squabbles, there's a lot going here! The vocal stylings of Dominique and the guys are so nicely varied and fun, ranging from a really fun sort-of-overdone gloominess, to an operatic pitch, to such an excellent gravel-in-the-throat sort of hissing. The instrumentals are provided by as much a toy box of things as there were on Squabbles (and the fantastic self-titled first mini-album), and the sound and flow of the tracks are just as varied. Every song presented has a unique feel and incredible charm of its own, from the aggressive "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here" stylings of 'Never Come Back' (and yet I have and have again) that starts things off, to the intense scariness of a sinking ship's soundtrack in 'Second Sleep' (Jesus, that one gets heavy!), to the weird, sinister, cabaret-esque funniness of Swimming Hole, to the appropriately dirty-sounding straight-up balls-out hard rock of Dried Moat, to the sort of Birthday Song I'd play for my little ones if I had 'em (though maybe it's better this way if I don't!). Additionally, if it just me, or is there a big sincere valentine to Mr. Bungle in Mousefood?This one starts with that aforementioned bang and ends with the atmospheric critter that is 'Grubbery (Burnt to a Crisp)', the longest track on the album, which makes for as good a lullaby as any other good-night song that a guy's inclined to think of. The arrangement of tracks is a peculiar one, I'll admit, compared to the overall flow of Squabbles, but comparisons can be such detrimental things, right? Especially given that music is really primarily about good, solid enjoyment of the vibrations that're having their ways with your ears. Not to mention the fact that yeah. Listening to Stolen Babies really does make for a short trip to the circus, where variety is to be expected and experienced with a lot of love and a little concern.<3

So I've been waiting for this album for many years, I'm a huge fan of Squabbles, it's one of those albums I never get tired of. I got this the first day it came out, but was not really into it right away, it took me a few listens to wrap my brain around it. They are a one of a kind band, it never sounds as if there halfassing it, this is an excellent album that gives you a feel that no other one does. Strange is a good word for this album, I've never quite heard an album like this, I've heard all these separate elements but never thrown together quite the same. My only complaint is the mixing, things seem muddy at parts, her voice is sometimes hard to understand & certain instruments get buried at times. I do love the songs though, hence the 5 stars.Anyway if your a fan of the band get the frikkin' album, there's not enough bands trying this hard to make something unique. Stolen Babies can not be categorized, they are there own genre. Please make sure to support this band, they're way underground = struggling artists. They aren't Metallica who can use 100 dollar bills for toilet paper. Other bands that I'd recommend to fans of Stolen Babies: The Birthday Massacre, Zombina and the Skeletones, Voltaire, Covered in Spiders & The Devin Townsend Project. BTW if you got the old version of Grubbery, this version is much better! Love this band, when people say there's no good music anymore I tell them: not on the radio, but there are underground bands still making incredible music... like The Stolen Babies!

My first review ever, so I'll keep it short and sweet. Five years ago I first stumbled upon There Be Squabbles ahead, the debut album of this wonderful gem of a band. Five years now I've been waiting with baited breath for the follow up and it's finally here and it's everything I had hoped it would be and more.Squabbles was an eclectic showcase of Stolen Babies' fresh, incredibly unique yet oh so addicting sound and Naught is no different. Every song is soundly different from the one that came before it yet it all flows from beginning to end perfectly. Dominique's impressive vocal prowess is on full display here more so than it was on Squabbles as she moves effortlessly from her velvety smooth croons to vicious cat-like growls to everything else in between, above and below. She's only one part of the equation however, and the rest of the band does not disappoint.I must admit however, that it did not sink its hooks in me immediately, but then again neither did Squabbles. It's different, and if you're unsure after the first time through I urge you to give it another listen or two to try and digest what you've just heard. It's worth it, trust me.On a side note, they are absolutely incredible live. I had the opportunity to see them on Sep. 15th and it was killer. Don't pass up the chance if they're ever near you.

This might get a five-star rating after I get used to it, but I think Naught deserves at least four. Squabbles, their earlier album, was fantastic, and I grew to love it the more I listened to it.I always think of this band as Tim Burton's rock/metal band. Hope they don't mind the tag...IF you would like to hear something different with atmosphere, melody, a beat, AND aggressive, THEN this may be the album for you.

usually I am a die hard metal head, but when I discovered Stolen Babies I was hooked...The first record I bought from them was There be Squabbles Ahead, and was hooked on it for months...it just has the right mix of screaming and melody...Naught is the follow up to Squabbles and it does not disappoint... i like supporting bands such as this just for the fact that are not just doing the same old thing...

I have to admit that on first listen I thought the album was missing something; the immediate hook of songs like tablescrap or push button... but on further listens I have to say that 'Naught' is a much better, more even album than "there be squabbles ahead" there is more of an overall 'sound' to the album. that's not to say that even = plain. there is still accordion-fuelled metal, Elfman-esque shanties and actually some borderline anthemic choruses.a strong ALBUM from go to whoa!

as described, good

Als 2008 das Album There be Squabbles Ahead in meinen Ohren erklang war ich hin und weg, dachte aber gleichzeitig, dass es bei diesem Album bleiben würde.Und plötzlich war da ein neues Album mit dem Titel "Naught", dass mir wieder einmal den Kopf verdreht hat. Abwechslungsreich, ruhig, sanft, laut und hart zugleich, absolut verspult und mit Zirkus-Melodien untermalt. Eine Scheibe die Dich in eine Welt der Filme von Tim Burton oder in eine bunte Gruselwelt befördert und viel Gefühl zeigt.Irgendwie komme ich nicht dazu sie ins CD Regal zu stellen, denn ich muss sie wieder und wieder und wieder hören :)

Probabilmente sono l'unico a conoscerli in Italia, band americana di nicchia che meriterebbe più fortuna. Propongono una musica molto particolare, che ti accompagna in un mondo alternativo, onirico, certamente non si può dire che siano commerciali. Non ai livelli di There be Squabbles Ahead, ma pur sempre un buon album. Consigliato se volete provare qualcosa di nuovo

Some years ago I bought Stolen Babies' first album "There be..." and I was blown away, their originality and versatility was amazing. Loved the vocals and the heaviness and playfulness of the style.With Naught they got to another level, they are creepy but fun, the vocals improved and the range of feelings they convey is spectacular. Absolutely loved it, I recommend it to all the metal lovers, and mostly to those with an open mind for new styles that are outside the "normative" metal.