The Bottom Line
Ever since Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer welded together rock guitars and disco synths back in 1979 on "Hot Stuff," it has been obvious that, in the right hands, a mix of dance music and rock can be intoxicating. Canadian band Finger Eleven get it right here and deliver a small pop masterpiece. Just try to get this hook out of your head. It is on track to be the band's much deserved first top 10 pop single in the US.
Listen to "Paralyzer"
Pros
- Irresistibly crunchy rock guitars
- Angst-ridden lyrics
- Tight, hot production...nothing wasted
Cons
- No negatives here
Description
- Big, thumping bass drum
- Clashing rock guitars
- Vocals and lyrics emotionally near the edge
Guide Review - Finger Eleven - Paralyzer
First released clear back in March, 2007, it looked like Finger Eleven's "Paralyzer," the first single from their album Them Vs. You Vs. Me would fall through the cracks and be forgotten. However, it has slowly gained favor on pop radio with a quickening pace since mid-summer. It is no surprise. Once this tight little song catches hold, it does not let go.
In a fashion similar to the evolution of UK punk bands in the early 80's post-punk era, many post-hardcore and punk pop bands seem to be discovering the merits of funk and dance beats. This year has already seen hits like Fall Out Boy's "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" and Good Charlotte's breakout "I Don't Wanna Be In Love (Dance Floor Anthem)", both of which are quite at home in rock-oriented dance clubs. With "Paralyzer," Finger Eleven joins them, and this is possibly the dance-rock hit of the year.
Although filled with surface attitude, the song's lyrics have an angst-ridden core that makes the song edgy and memorable. The draw of the club is irresistible for the protagonist even if romantically striking out and self-absorbed attitude make the experience painful. This is all set to an exhilarating crunch of rock guitars. You'll want to hear this over and over.
