Flawed by Viv: A Little Gem from 2004 That Still Hits Right
Alright, let’s talk about Flawed by Viv. This indie rock/pop-rock hybrid dropped back in 2004 on the Ten Toes Over label, and honestly? It's one of those albums that sneaks up on you. At first glance, it feels like your standard early 2000s alt-rock record—kinda scrappy, kinda raw—but then you realize there’s more going on under the surface. The US-based band somehow managed to blend catchy hooks with a gritty edge, and yeah, it works.
First off, can we just acknowledge how wild it is that they included two versions of “Suzanne’s One Good Eye” and “Out Of The Rain”? Like, what’s the deal with that? Was it some kind of happy accident, or were they just messing with us? Either way, I’m not mad about it. Actually, hearing both takes gives you a cool little window into how much thought went into these songs.
Now, onto the tracks themselves. Let me tell ya, “Green” is one of those tunes that sticks in your head for no reason. It’s not even the most obvious single or anything—it’s not flashy, doesn’t scream “hit me!”—but something about its laid-back vibe and lazy guitar riffs makes it unforgettable. Plus, the lyrics have this dreamy, almost stream-of-consciousness thing going on. You don’t really know if it’s about nature, love, or just vibin’, and honestly, I think that’s why I keep coming back to it. Sometimes music doesn’t need to make perfect sense to hit hard.
Then there’s “Bob Dylan Said.” Yeah, okay, so maybe naming a song after Bob freakin’ Dylan sets the bar high, but this track delivers. It’s got this loose, jammy energy that feels like you’re hanging out in someone’s garage while they noodle around on their instruments. The vocals are kinda rough around the edges, but that’s part of the charm. There’s a line—I won’t quote it exactly ‘cause my memory sucks—but it’s one of those moments where you’re like, “Whoa, wait, rewind that!” Like, it sneaks up on you when you least expect it. And hey, any song bold enough to drop Bob Dylan’s name twice deserves props.
The rest of the album has its highlights too—“Friends” is super chill, “Shine” gets stuck in your brain—but overall, it’s just a solid collection of tunes that feel real. No overproduced nonsense here, just good old-fashioned indie rock vibes. If you dig bands like The Strokes or early Kings of Leon, you’ll probably vibe with this.
Here’s the thing though—what’s up with the repetition? Having duplicate tracks feels like either a packaging error or an intentional move to mess with listeners. Honestly, I kinda respect it. In a world full of polished albums designed to be consumed fast, Flawed feels like it doesn’t give a damn. And you know what? That’s refreshing.
So yeah, Flawed might not change your life, but it’s definitely worth a spin if you’re into music that’s a little rough around the edges. Oh, and fun fact: listening to this album made me realize I own three shirts older than it. How’s that for perspective?
