The Opiates - Hollywood Under The Knife

Review by Brendan Schneider

Album Review: Hollywood Under The Knife by The Opiates Released in 2011 on the Disco Activisto label, Hollywood Under The Knife is an eclectic mix of synth-pop and ambient vibes that feels like a late-night drive through neon-lit streets. With its roots firmly planted in both pop and electronic genres, this UK & Europe-based project offers something refreshingly raw yet polished enough to stick with you long after the first listen. It’s not perfect—no album ever is—but it has moments so striking they feel almost otherworldly. The collaboration between Robert Solheim (music) and Billie Ray Martin (lyrics) gives the record a unique edge. Add Wolfgang Tillmans’ photography and Chris von Rautenkranz’s mastering touch, and you’ve got yourself a cohesive piece of art that looks as good as it sounds. But let’s get into what really makes this album worth talking about: the tracks. "Anatomy of a Plastic Girl" This one hits hard, mainly because it's impossible to ignore how biting the lyrics are. Martin doesn’t hold back when dissecting superficial beauty standards wrapped up in shiny plastic packaging. The production mirrors this theme perfectly; shimmering synths clash against darker undertones, creating tension that keeps your ears glued. There’s something hypnotic about the way the melody loops around itself—it pulls you deeper without ever feeling repetitive. If anything, it gets under your skin in the best possible way. "Rainy Days and Saturdays" If there was ever a track made for staring out rainy windows while nursing a cup of coffee, this would be it. Its melancholic tone pairs beautifully with Solheim’s layered instrumentation. The song builds slowly but deliberately, adding textures until it blooms into this lush soundscape that feels cinematic. Lyrically, it captures that bittersweet vibe of nostalgia mixed with longing—a universal emotion we can all tap into. You don’t just hear “Rainy Days and Saturdays”; you feel it. What stands out most about Hollywood Under The Knife isn’t necessarily its genre-blending or even its standout tracks—it’s the mood it creates. Listening to it feels like stepping into another world, one where glossy facades hide cracks beneath the surface. And honestly? That duality makes it oddly comforting. Here’s the kicker though—this album didn’t blow up the charts, and chances are, if you stumbled across it now, it’d still fly under the radar. Maybe that’s okay. After all, some things are better appreciated quietly, away from the noise. Final thought: This album reminds me of those old-school mixtapes people used to make—personal, imperfect, but packed full of heart. Oh, and whoever decided to include two versions of "Candy Coated Crime"? Genius move.

Download The Opiates - Hollywood Under The Knife

Artist: The Opiates
Album: Hollywood Under The Knife

UK & Europe

2011

Rating: 4.64

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Interesting fact
Comments
Related albums

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Filename: the-opiates-hollywood-under-the-knife.zip

MP3 size: 119 mb
FLAC size: 802.4 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Silent Comes the Nighttime (Again)	05:35
Dinah And The Beautiful Blue	5:43
Candy Coated Crime (Alternative Version)	7:00
Dinah and the Beautiful Blue	05:46
Candy Coated Crime	4:56
Silent Comes The Nighttime (Again)	5:37
I'm Not Simone Choule	05:36
Rainy Days and Saturdays	05:31
Jalousies And Jealousies	5:02
I'm Not Simone Choule	5:34
Oprah's Book Of The Month Club (Part Two)	6:17
Oprah's Book of the Month Club, Pt. 2	06:19
Jalousies and Jealousies	05:05
Anatomy Of A Plastic Girl	5:09
Anatomy of a Plastic Girl	05:10
Rainy Days And Saturdays	5:29
Reality TV	3:43

Video

The Opiates @ The Bear Pit, 19/10/2011 - Reality TV

Anatomy Of A Plastic Girl ~ The Opiates

The Opiates - Jalousies and Jealousies

Dinah and the Beautiful Blue

The Opiates - Rainy Days and Saturdays (Radio Edit) HD1080p

The Opiates - Silent comes the nighttime (again)

The Tenant vs The Opiates - I'm Not Simone Choule

The Opiates | Oprah's Book of the Month Club (part two)

Images

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Catalog Numbers

DAREC 1103

Labels

Disco Activisto

Listen online

online anhören
ouvir online
escuchar en línea
écouter en ligne
online luisteren
lytte på nettet
kuunnella verkossa
ascolta in linea
lyssna på nätet

Formats

CD
Album

Companies

Role	Company
Distributed By	Cargo
Manufactured By	Key Production
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Disco Activisto
Copyright (c)	Disco Activisto
Mastered At	Soundgarden Tonstudio

Credits

Role	Credit
Design	Philip Marshall
Mastered By	Chris von Rautenkranz
Music By	Robert Solheim
Lyrics By	Billie Ray Martin
Photography By	Wolfgang Tillmans
Producer	The Opiates
Mixed By	The Opiates
Written-By	Martin (tracks: 1 to 8, 10), Solheim (tracks: 1 to 6, 8, 10)

Notes

In gatefold digifile case with booklet.
All songs published by: Copyright Control [Billie Ray Martin], Copyright Control [Robert Solheim] except: 'Dinah and the Beautiful Blue' published by Straysound; 'Oprah's Book of the Month Club [part two]' published by: Copyright Control [Billie Ray Martin], Copyright Control [Robert Solheim], DVersion Music Publishing Ltd; 'Silent Comes the Nighttime [again]' published by: Copyright Control [Billie Ray Martin], Copyright Control [Robert Solheim], DVersion Music Publishing Ltd.
℗+© 2011 Disco Activisto.
Manufactured in the EU.

Barcodes

Barcode: 5055300329332
Matrix / Runout: KEY DAREC1103CD
Other (Mastering SID Code): IFPI LP76
Other (Mould SID Code): IFPI AAHY2

About The Opiates

Name Vars

Opiates

Members

Robert Solheim
Birgit Dieckmann

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s a fun fact: The album *Hollywood Under The Knife* by The Opiates is a treasure trove of creativity, blending synth-pop and ambient vibes. One standout detail? It features photography by Wolfgang Tillmans, the renowned artist known for his raw and intimate style. His visuals add another layer to the album's moody, cinematic feel. Plus, it’s got two versions of "Candy Coated Crime," because why stop at one when you can have an alternative take? The record feels like a true collaborative labor of love, with Billie Ray Martin’s lyrics and Robert Solheim’s music working in perfect harmony. A little piece of 2011 UK/Europe artistry frozen in time!

Comments

ke0bac

2025-03-15

Her 2nd greatest song she's ever sung.
=M=

akhmadarip86

2025-03-15

wow

klampl

2025-03-14

Beautiful voice all on its own as always

berzinadebara

2025-03-14

Absolutely brilliant

vincenzofreelance

2025-03-13

I'm taken to a dream state, in an endless journey of tears and joy ❤️

sonubokya

2025-03-12

Gosh Billie... more great music!

gabriellegrace

2025-03-11

So wonderful song ....

etupirka

2025-03-10

Love this

fromagea

2025-03-09

Are you familiar with her earlier work when she was the lead singer of a group Electribe 101? Amazing stuff.

tanisha1409

2025-03-08

Nice Track

asca1

2025-03-07

This girl also sings a song called Loving Arms a few years back...that song is excellent too. Fantastic voice...I love her!!!!

irvana2014

2025-03-06

The demons are everywhere. Their watching from the windows waiting for the chance to catch your heart and kill you from within.
Love to Billie Ode to the Night...

ccecotopaxi

2025-03-05

Awesome !

orangebedsheet

2025-03-04

Thank you for being there, Billie. You soar. Greetings from Krakow. XX

sekiamatt

2025-03-03

Beautiful!!! Heart goes out to BRM!

luciavida

2025-03-02

Still a superb song and video after all thse years!

irmabirka007

2025-03-02

oh wow , this is delightful!!!! thank you!!

axeleiker

2025-03-01

J'aime beaucoup ce que tu fais Billie, J'aime beaucoup l'esthétique de ces songs

empisy

2025-02-28

Slick cool video, beautiful amazing voice, amazing artistic talent. beautiful just beautiful, i love those beautiful expressive eyes.

floydbrauner

2025-02-28

Very Depeche Mode isn't it, the music that is, and then Billie's narrative gets dream-like at the chorus. This made me well up a bit hearing it for the first time, I was just so pleased to see it.