Mumiy Troll — Vladivostok — Absolute Punk

Mumiy Troll — Vladivostok

Record Label: The Village
Release Date: April 24, 2012

What do you do when you`ve conquered your home country for more than four decades and still want to keep pursuing music? If you`re the Russian quartet Mumiy Troll, you record your first English-language album, work with seasoned producers like Joe Chicarelli and Mike Clink, and sign to an American label. And so it is that the Russian supergroup Mumiy Troll, already heavy hitters in their home country, have indeed released this 10-song disc.

From front to back, it`s an engaging work and definitely worth repeat listens, but it is not exactly the stuff of legends. Oh sure, there`s some great tracks on here, namely the hyper-caffeinated «Vladivostok Vacation,» and the dance-inspired «Love Contraband.» Considering this is the first time he`s singing in English, vocalist Ilya Lagutenko does a pretty decent job. There`s an obvious lilt to his timbre and at times it can be off-putting. Lagutenko seems to shine most on choruses and proof of that is first single «Fantastica,» and the near-perfect «Hey Tovaresh»

But, as one might expect, even in music, some things just get lost in translation. The most ready example of this is «Sorry Tiger.» There`s a definite veer towards glam and swagger here and while the band does at times pull it off, other times it can sound wretched, case in point, «Not Tomorrow.»

In the end, the fact that Vladivostok is even in the states is amazing in and of itself. After all this is a band that had to smuggle records by Blondie and the Sex Pistols pass the Iron Curtain to perform in stadiums worldwide. That kind of perseverance and dedication is exactly what rook music is about and exactly why the disc deserves at least a few listens.

Gregory Robson