Everything's Better in Space: Listening to Innerpartysystem
Innerpartysystem - Innerpartysystem In Stores September 30, 2008
By Jason Eskin

Nice, long title to start out this review - a real mouthful.

I'm going to be honest with you, the loyal reader. I'm going to be honest and say I was not a fan of Innerparty System before this review. I don't know any of their previous material. However, that doesn't seem to be too much of a problem because, according to Wikipedia, they only had one release before that and it was a self-recorded EP. So, I think my not knowing them before this release is irrelevant, so pipe it.

Anyway, you're reading this because you want to know what I thought of this album. Again, because you're such a loyal reader, I'm going to be honest with you: since last week, I've probably listened to this album about 10 times. Yep. 10. No lie. You know what happens each time? I start listening, start getting my schwerve on, then bam: I stop paying attention.

It's not that I don't like the album, it's that the appeal of Innerparty System comes from enjoying them in one of three conditions:

- Driving down the highway, in space
- You're at an Innerparty System concert, in space
- You're making love, IN SPACE

It comes from one of these three conditions (or a combination, OF ALL OF THEM), and not from listening to them at your desk, in an office- like I've been doing.

The singles off the album are good, "Heart of Fire" and "Don't Stop," they're good, I promise. But again, if you're at a desk, staring into a computer screen, you're probably going to stop paying attention. These aren't just techno beats without lyrics or diversity, they have both, and they exhibit them well. The songs on this debut are a little heavier than your average ambient techno music. It's actually on the heavier ones where you really hear the band come to life. The slow songs are perfect to put on while sleeping, in space.

So, what's the bottom line here, aside from this review being disjointed, awkward, and of very little help? The bottom line is this: the album itself is great background noise to a long night drive or something to got to sleep to. But, live, that's where I can really imagine this music coming to life. Don't be surprised if you see me at their next show, shaking my tight little ass during these hard, ambient beats.