SNEAKER PIMPS BLOODSPORT ALBUM TOMMY BOY RELEASE: APRIL 29, 2002 REVIEW: APRIL 19, 2002

I have been following British band Sneaker Pimps since their first album "Becoming X" where they sounded like a happier Portishead, maybe because of their female singer Kelli Dayton. On that album they managed to squeeze in a couple of brilliant tunes between otherwise bland material.
The follow-up, "Splinter" sported a new male singer named Chris Corner, actually already a member of the band, but wasn't confident enough about his vocals to handle the singing before. "Splinter" also has a slightly more mainstream sound.
Now, the band's third album is here after some delays, and it shows that they have even more pop influences on this one. Their sense for melodies is impeccable, and Chris does a wonderful job. The trip hop influences are still here, but now they sound like a happier mix between Portishead, Radiohead and synthpop, if you can believe that. The soundscape is predominantly electronic with both acoustic and electric guitars filling out nicely. The songs are also more upbeat than on the other albums.
A great many songs on display here are potential singles, and they have that "humming along" factor that always gives me the shivers. I really think Sneaker Pimps deserve to have at least one huge hit from this album, because this is bloody excellent stuff! And they say that trip hop was dead. Well, guess again. As an ending note to this review, I also want to make clear that "Bloodsport" is the best movie Jean-Claude Van Damme ever has done. "Show us your Dim-mak!"

JOHAN CARLSSON