Tuesday review

EPs/LPs

Nightlights- So it goes

The problem with this type of music is people are too quick to make comparisons without judging the music on its own merit. Yes, this ‘orgcore’ sound has already been done well by bands such as Lagwagon, The Menzingers and Sharks and as a result originality is pretty difficult to attain but that doesnt mean ‘So It Goes’ is a bad record. Opening track ‘When you grow up your heart dies’ is full of the melodic guitar riffs, growly vocals,  simple drum beats and driving basslines you’d expect and there’s plenty of good singalong hooks. With lyrics like ‘You’ll always make the same mistakes until the day you die’ it isn’t the most positive and as the recurring subject themes are about going on tour and missing people they aren’t the most orignal either. ‘Truffle Shuffle’ has a more pop punk sound with harmonising vocals and the ‘whoas’ aren’t the last you’ll hear on the album.  The band’s attempt to slightly diversity their sound can be heard on ‘Obviously you’re not a golfer’ which is full of drum rolls and more melodic guitar parts and the instrumental ‘Something in Nothing’  which starts with repetitive bass strums. There’s a chance the band are fans of acoustic folk too after naming a song after the popular artist John Denver. There’s lots of catchy parts on the record full of clean simple drum beats and riffs but halfway through it does start to get a little tedious.The thing is though, if this record is to be judged by sounding too similar to bands who have already done this, atleast they’ve done a pretty damn good job of it.

Tracks

Ceremony- ‘Hysteria’

From a band who have caused me to gain 15 bruises from a gig before thanks to their relentless hardcore set, ‘Hysteria’ is not what I was expecting at all. I already sensed they were going for a more mellow sound from the simple clean drumbeats heard on the Rohnert Park album but this confirms the 30 second bursts of brutality may be a thing of the past.  But that doesn’t make it weak. Ross screams ‘Hysteria’ over the lo-fi recording which has punk written all over it. Until the ‘whoas’ come in, which are better left out in my opinion. The track shows the band could go either way on the next album. Let’s just hope they don’t lose that magic reminiscient of 80’s hardcore that leaves people begging for more.

Overall verdict: a distinct departure from their earlier hardcore stuff, but still contagiously good!
Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIrEcxvOzYI&ob=av2e

Hear The Sirens- ‘Our Distaster’

Our Distaster starts with thundering drums that make you wanna bang your head along straight away. It’s a bit like Less Than Jake on speed and doesn’t even get annoyingly repetitive. The West Coast four piece have a tight sound with catchy clean riffs made up of simple punk chords, blundering drum rolls and distinct basslines. You can imagine cruising along the west coast on a long board, so it’s s shame it’s still bloody cold out! At 2.29 it’s a short and sweet taster of what’s to come from their first record in three years. It’s a track that’s easy to listen to again and again and hopefully the band, who are currently recording at The Panda Studios, have a few more catchy gems like this to come.

Overall verdict: Will get you in the summer mood and make you appreciate the fact that now ALL pop-punk bands are annoyingly repetitive.
Listen: http://hearthesirens.bandcamp.com/album/our-disaster-demo