CSS' Donkey will be released July 21, 2008. The album was recorded at Trama Studios, São Paulo, Brazil. Pre-order here.


1. Jager Yoga [3:48]
This is 3 minutes and 48 seconds of the same kick pedal/hi-hat/guitar riff over. And over. And over again. I could do without it. (Although the bass line is pretty sick, and pretty much the only redeeming quality of the first track.)
Track Mark = C-

2. Rat is Dead (Rage) [3:18]
We've all been privy to this one already as CSS leaked it themselves a while back. I liked it then. And I really am on the cusp of loving it now. It definitely shows off a more polished feel than their previous offerings.
Track Mark = A-

3. Let's Reggae All Night [3:54]
The squealing shrieking keys during the verses caught me off guard, but I dig it. Best line: "If you want a friend...we can drink in the afternoon...that's cool." This track is screaming for a remix. So, remixers, yeah. Get on it.
Track Mark = B+

4. Give Up [3:20]
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And imitation is nothing more than repetition, right? This track has the curse of the repetition, much as the first track does. Maybe they did just Give Up on this one. (ooh, burn...)
Track Mark = D

5. Left Behind [3:30]
Loved this track when it leaked. Still love it. "Baby you've got me thinking...'bout the things I left behind...a suitcase in Helsinki...full of things I wanna set on fire." You can't compete with lyrics like that.
Track Mark = A+

6. Beautiful Song [3:27]
This track definitely has a surfer vibe feel to it. And hand claps. We all know how much I entertain hand claps with open, warm and welcoming arms. Here we have Lovefoxxx's spoken styled vocals backed with former drummer turned bassist Adriano Cintra's slightly more harmonic vocals.
Track Mark = A

7. How I Became Paranoid [3:25]
Not particularly fond of the arrangement on this one, but lyrically, I enjoy it. Again, this one is showing a much lighter side of CSS than we have come to know.
Track Mark = B-

8. Move [3:53]
Aside from Left Behind, this one is making a case to be my front runner favorite. There's a little bit of everything in here. Electro tidbits. Hand claps. Vocoder usage. Male and female vocal pairings.
Track Mark = A

9. I Fly [3:16]
I Fly has more of a rock vibe than any of the other tracks. It has an endless amount of energy and I can easily foresee that when it's performed live, everyone will be out of their seats, regardless if they're extremely familiar with it or not. "Last night, I turned into a fly...I got through your window and I landed in your eye...you were sleeping." How much do I love that line? Too much.
Track Mark = A+

10. Believe Achieve [3:36]
Sounds like the title of a "The More You Know" type segment, right? Except it's not all warm and cuddly. It's got a thick solid bass that has single written all over it. The offbeat kick pedal is nasty. Nasty good. Props to whomever mans the kit on this one, seeing as how drummers went through the revolving throne door as of late.
Track Mark = A-

11. Air Painter [3:47]
Immediately, I'm loving the backing "oo-ooh-oo-ooh-ooh's". Very west coast sounding surfer vibe again. This is a nice track to end, tying in all the elements within the full album. There's a hearty rock dose without neglecting the Brazilian roots of CSS.
Track Mark = B+

Overall, CSS has succeeded in a solid follow up to their self-titled debut. As was to be expected by listening to early leaks Rat is Dead (Rage) and Left Behind, the entire set has a much more polished and refined sound to it. As in, if the first album was just getting it's baby wobbly fawn legs under itself, Donkey has turned out a frolicking and sturdy Bambi. Does that make sense? To me it does. Donkey is greater than or equal to Bambi.

mp3: CSS - I Fly