Electro rock group Shiny Toy Guns is finally releasing a new album and it is actually all new songs. I know it got a little confusing after they released We Are Pilots three times, but Season of Poison is their legitimate second album. Granted, there are several similarities, but many more differences. 
The first major and most noticeable difference is that Sisely Treasure has taken over the duties of Carah Faye Charnow. Treasure is a good fit for the band and she manages to balance between finesse and grittiness just as well as Charnow did, but Treasure still brings her own style to the table. Her duets with Gregori Chad Petree on songs like “When Did This Storm Begin” and
“I Owe You A Love Song” show that they work seamlessly as a team. I think it’s a very good thing that she lost the CW’s game/reality show to be the next Pussycat Doll [Ed. Note: Ugh.] because this is a much better fit for Treasure.
Many songs sound similar to the first album. “I Owe You A Love Song” reminds me a lot of “You Are The One,” but it’s cutesier. This song has the potential to really catch on with all of its hooks. I love the progression of how Petree sings the encouraging lines, “These broken days won’t last forever, / You know I’ll put us back together,” but Treasure has a more cautious outlook and it sounds like the girl has been burned before as she says, “Your words aren’t good to me, / It’s like hearing a song without a melody.” However, by the end of the song, she starts echoing him, so it sounds like she has either forgiven or found some hope.
As sweet as that one sounds, the record doesn’t stay cute for long and with a title of Season of Poison, the songs slowly turn venomous. “Ghost Town” picks up the pace and adds a rock edge. Treasure’s voice on this one sounds like Gwen Stefani in “Hollaback Girl.” Current radio single, “Ricochet!” takes the normally melodic phrase of “La la la” and turns it into an angry growl.
Fittingly, “Poison” is the longest song on the album and its dark intro and multiple progressions will capture your attention completely. A faint background noise in the background gives the felling like you are on a jungle safari into the hear of darkness.
While I would still choose We Are Pilots to listen to first if you are unfamiliar with Shiny Toy Guns, Season of Poison is still an interesting, complex that is also rather enjoyable despite of few dull moments.
Season of Poison will be released November 4, 2008.
Tracklisting:
01. When Did This Storm Begin (Featuring Binary Finary)
02. Money For That
03. I Owe You A Love Song
04. Ghost Town
05. It Became A Lie On You
06. Ricochet!
07. Season Of Love
08. Poison
09. Blown Away
10. Turned To Real Life
11. Frozen Oceans
Shiny Toy Guns: website | myspace
Written by: Bethany
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