The Slants - Slanted Eyes, Slanted Heart

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An all-Asian synth-pop/rock band might conjure up certain stereotypes for most people, such as your typical J-Pop band. These are the very stereotypes that the group, The Slants, want to shake up.

Based out of Portland, Oregon, the band consists of A-Ron (vocals), Simon Young (bass), Jen Cho (keyboards), Johnny aka: Gaijin (guitars), and AC (drums). The Slants were formed by Young in 2007, who had always wanted to form an all-Asian group. The band started playing at various anime and manga conventions, where they drew their first wave of fans; their songs about alienation, solidarity, and Asian-American identity hit a nerve with audiences. In fact, everything about The Slants, from their name to their lyrics, seems aimed at debunking what it means to be different or strange.

If you appreciate the lovelorn lyrics of Depeche Mode and The Cure mixed with the synth-heavy sounds of bands like New Order and Joy Division, then odds are you will fall in love with The Slants’ sound, a sound they have worked to a fine polish on their debut album, Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts.

Listening to singer A-Ron’s melancholy voice on tracks like “Kokoro I Fall to Pieces” stirs up memories of singer David Gahan singing equally melancholy lyrics as front man for Depeche Mode. Yet, following in the tradition of their synth-pop heroes of yore, The Slants’ music is what I like to call “a downer you can dance to.” Sure, songs about alienation, loss, and pain can make you feel blue, but how sad can you get when the songs are packaged with driving drums and bass, infectious synth hooks, and deceptively simple guitar riffs? Just listen to the first minute of “Stranglehold,” and I guarantee your head will be bobbing to the beat (or, if not your head, then your feet or your shoulders or any other body part you choose).

The Slants’ sound has been dubbed “Chinatown Dance Rock.” The label is a bit misleading since each member of the band is a mixture of different heritages, from Chinese to Filipino. However, their music transcends the Asian-American community to touch on feeling alone, being part of the ‘out-crowd,’ wanting to belong – themes that can resonate with anyone, regardless of where you come from.

True, The Slants may remind you a little too much of synth-pop bands of the 80s. Some have even said they sound like The Killers, which has some merit. But as debut outings go, Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts is a solid album.