This album is not as noisy or frenetic as Serpentine Gallery or even Bread and Jam for Francis. It is more ethereal and hypnotic. Dreamlike, surreal, and gorgeous. The songs are more richly textured than those on their previous albums. Yet, occasionally there are echoes back to Serpentine Gallery. There is no doubt that the songs on this album came from the same font of musical genius. Ultimately, I think this is their best work yet. The songs leave a more lasting impact. They have more resonance; the haunting sounds leave their essence behind long after the cd has finished playing.

I bought this cd a week ago and haven't been able to pry it out of my cd player since. I bought several other cds at the same time, and I just can't seem to give the others much of a chance yet because that would mean I can't listen to this one!

The Three Calamities is an awe-some album. If you haven't yet heard it, I envy you. And if you are a Switchblade Symphony fan and are dissuaded from buying this album because of the negative reviews on this site, then I pity you.


Excellent Trip-Goth!   January 31, 2003
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

Getting straight to the point, I'm quite appalled by all of these negative reviews, which were completely uncalled for! I bought 'Serpentine Gallery' before 'The Three Calamities' and though I do consider 'Serpentine Gallery' to be a classic album when it comes to electronic goth music, in my own humbled opinion I find 'The Three Calamities' to be much better in comparison and was really taken aback when I noticed the less than stelar reviews here! What I don't understand is the reason for everyone's incessant griping! So-called fans of Switchblade Symphony seem to be complaining about them altering their style but they make it sound so drastic when the difference is in fact hardly audible! Tina's quirky high-pitched voice hasn't changed a bit and the lyrics are just as devious and as twisted as they've ever been! Instead of having Susan's synthesizers and loops provide a dancebeat backdrop, however, they tone it down a little with trip-hop instead of electronica, which compliments the more prominent piano instrument as they trade-in the harsh guitars for a more subtle approach. And while 'Serpentine Gallery' contains some rememerable hits like "Dollhouse" and "Gutter Glitter", 'The Three Calamities' is an overall better album (although many will beg to differ, I'm sure) and I find myself helplessly attached to irresistible tunes like "Into The Sky" and "Copycat".


A Grand Good-Bye   November 27, 2004
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

As a late-bloomer to the musical joy that was Switchblade Symphony, I was saddened to learn that "The Three Calamities" was to be their last studio release. You don't have to be a member (or even fan of) gothic subculture to appreciate the songs on this album. Tina Root and Susan Wallace brought something extraordinary to a predominantly fashion-oriented musical genre: they gave it substance & credibility. If you want something calming, yet thought-provoking, this CD is for you. If you want great music to fall asleep by, this CD is for you. If you want something positively eerie to accompany your walks in the woods at night by the light of a full moon... then this CD is for you. That's what makes "The Three Calamities" (and the music of Switchblade Symphony, in general) so appealing: it may help set a tone, but it doesn't dominate the listener's state of mind.
If you were a fan since "Serpentine Gallery", then you'll hear songs that showcase more sophisticated melodies and experienced lyrical wisdom. And if you're discovering Switchblade Symphony for the first time, tunes like 'Invisible', 'Naked Birthday', and 'Into The Sky' will inspire you to search out their earlier works. Overall, "The Three Calamities" is a grand finale to an all-too-short but brilliant duo who broke the repetitive, faded, hopeless mold of gothic music.


My favorite SS album   February 23, 2003
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

"Serpentine Gallery" was my first introduction to Switchblade Symphony. I thought the duo reminded me a lot like Siouxsie & The Banshees, particularly Tina Roots' vocals with that high-pitched, if not quirkly (at times) vocals which Siouxsie's voice often sounded like on "Peek-a-Boo" and "Slowdive". "Three Calamities" is the only other SS album that I own. I must admit that I am in the small percentage of reviewers who will say that "Three Calamities" is the better of the two albums. I don't know why but other than the music on "Three Calamities" resonated with me more than "Serpentine Gallery" (as delightfully good as the cd is). I just find myself enjoying SS's brand of trip hop and goth music more enjoyable on "Three Calamities". The cd starts off with a bang on "Invisible", one of my all time favorite SS songs. "Wicked" is a wickedly hypnotic song. Susan and Tina rocks out a bit more on "Naked Birthday". The guitars are more obvious on this track as opposed to the synthesizers. Excellent song. "Invitation" shifts into a more trip hop mode but the listener still can hear the guitars on the song. Overall I don't know why "Three Calamities" gets slagged so much. I honestly find the music on this album very enjoyable. It has been awhile I have listened to this cd. Now that I am listening to it again while writing this review, I almost forgot how much I adore "Three Calamities". Although the production could have been better, the music overall still sounds as fresh too me as when I bought it over a year ago. Too bad I got into the band after they had broken up. I really would have liked to have seen the band live. Still it is never too late to get into Switchblade Symphony.


Simply beautiful from start to finish!   July 5, 1999
 6 out of 11 found this review helpful

Okay, I'm getting rather annoyed with how everyone hates this CD. Give it up people! This CD is by far better than Bread and Jam for Frances! Sure, Serpentine Gallery was a major hit and everything because it was more technoish, but dudes. Face it. Switchblade Symphony is NOT TECHNO! Hell, all you fans out there that have a copy of Scrapbook in your possession should know this! The Interview on LIVE 105 says it all. "Dark Wave or Dark Dance Music!" That came right from Tina's mouth. SS is not Gothic music, people. Gothic is like Sisters of Mercy or Bauhaus or some band like that. Switchblade Symphony sounds NOTHING like those bands. Now, on to the business with The Three Calamities. Please. Give me a break. This CD 0wnZ you all. Fear is simple beautiful, and so is Invisible, and Monsters. Heck, the entire CD is wonderful. Okay, so maybe I was hard on Bread and Jam for Frances. It was a good CD, but it lacked in something that Serpentine and Calamities has. It was more of a trip-hop thing. SG and TTC offers a techno edge to it, but keeping in line with dark wave standards. So, for new listeners, I ask that you check out all three titles by Switchblade Symphony. Compare them, dig deep in their meanings. Don't listen to the critics. Find out for yourself. For you fans, be exactly what you are. Fans. Love Tina and Susan, and give them your time of day. They need you! And for the rest of the fans, . . .wait? Did I just say fans? Oh, sorry. For you "ex-fans": You really need to be cooler to Tina and Susan. You try creating music and getting people to like it. Change is good! Anyways, this is getting long, and I'm limited on space. If you want more of my opinion, write me or something. hehe. See ya and give Tina and Susan a break! :)