Steve Henderson
05/30/06, 09:04 AM
You In Series - Outside We Are fine
Release Date: May 30, 2006
Record Label: Equal Vision Records
It is always interesting to me to see how a label stacks up its roster. There are some, like the Militia Group, that reach for a diverse, almost schizophrenic lineup that each bring something wholly different if not conflicting, to the table. There are few labels, though, where the bands tend to be united under a common sound, vibe, or overall mantra. Just as this was true for Drive-Thru in the days of (pop-punk) yore, the same can be said for Equal Vision's current squad of rockers that find themselves linked under the label's greater banner of "dark" rock. This brand is most definitely cast upon You In Series, whose debut, Outside We Are Fine is a collection of ten flowing, shadowy cuts that serves as an adept addition to the label and the rock scene in general.
As a band, You In Series is not going to single-handedly set off any revolutions of sound or ideology. The band is, quite simply, a straight-up rock band, both in their musicianship and storied lyrical stylings, an item that can be in with a Thrice-ish guitar wail, and introduces Kyle Lobeck's strong vocal command noted from the album's commencement. The opening track, "The Watcher," swirls and swoops, as he switches between a Kensrue-style strain and a fragile sweetness reminiscent of Portugal The Man's John Gourley, playing directly off his bandmates, leading them but not overshadowing them. The track stands as an extremely adept opener, and as one of the album's more engaging tracks, offers the listener the necessary intrigue to go on and check out the album's other standout cuts. After a few less descript tunes, the band hits stride once more with the brilliant "Lose Faith in the Truth" which finds Lobeck testing his range and harmonizing seamlessly with Logan Lanning all in concert with a pair of ominously twinkling guitar lines that dance in and out of each other's embrace. Similar praise can be showered upon "When and Where a Real World Occurs," which weaves a tapestry out of a siren-like wailing six-string backdrop underscoring another mighty vocal exhibition from Lobeck and Lanning. The rest of the album floats pretty well below the high water mark of these three top tracks, but remains easy enough to listen to.
As it stands, if you have heard any of the songs they have posted online, I find that You In Series sound almost like a screamo band without the screaming, with Lobeck's silky vocals tending to dance over patiently restrained guitar lines. The listener is essentially left waiting for a furious breakdown to crash and surge or a searing vocal that never ends up coming. To add to this, Brian McTernan wraps the whole package up in accordance with the blueprint he used on Circa Survive's Juturna, giving the record a strangely similar sound to the aforementioned work. The overall sound thus makes for a clean, polished presentation, but therein lies the problem that ensnares You In Series. The subsequent impression is that the band is a little too safe and pedestrian for its own good on occasions, leaving the listener frustrated that the band fails to consistently realize the brilliance they are so obviously capable of. I almost feel that I need to go see the guys play live to get a splash of the energy that is so carefully curtailed on this record. In the end, Outside We Are Fine ends up being an infallibly persuasive exercise in assertion of potential, but in the end, comes across being a little too one-dimensional to realize everything that I feel You In Series is truly capable of. That said, I really dig the band's sound and look forward to great things from them in the future.
Thin Dark Line, Circa Survive, Facing New York, Thrice, Portugal the Man
Release Date: May 30, 2006
Record Label: Equal Vision Records
It is always interesting to me to see how a label stacks up its roster. There are some, like the Militia Group, that reach for a diverse, almost schizophrenic lineup that each bring something wholly different if not conflicting, to the table. There are few labels, though, where the bands tend to be united under a common sound, vibe, or overall mantra. Just as this was true for Drive-Thru in the days of (pop-punk) yore, the same can be said for Equal Vision's current squad of rockers that find themselves linked under the label's greater banner of "dark" rock. This brand is most definitely cast upon You In Series, whose debut, Outside We Are Fine is a collection of ten flowing, shadowy cuts that serves as an adept addition to the label and the rock scene in general.
As a band, You In Series is not going to single-handedly set off any revolutions of sound or ideology. The band is, quite simply, a straight-up rock band, both in their musicianship and storied lyrical stylings, an item that can be in with a Thrice-ish guitar wail, and introduces Kyle Lobeck's strong vocal command noted from the album's commencement. The opening track, "The Watcher," swirls and swoops, as he switches between a Kensrue-style strain and a fragile sweetness reminiscent of Portugal The Man's John Gourley, playing directly off his bandmates, leading them but not overshadowing them. The track stands as an extremely adept opener, and as one of the album's more engaging tracks, offers the listener the necessary intrigue to go on and check out the album's other standout cuts. After a few less descript tunes, the band hits stride once more with the brilliant "Lose Faith in the Truth" which finds Lobeck testing his range and harmonizing seamlessly with Logan Lanning all in concert with a pair of ominously twinkling guitar lines that dance in and out of each other's embrace. Similar praise can be showered upon "When and Where a Real World Occurs," which weaves a tapestry out of a siren-like wailing six-string backdrop underscoring another mighty vocal exhibition from Lobeck and Lanning. The rest of the album floats pretty well below the high water mark of these three top tracks, but remains easy enough to listen to.
As it stands, if you have heard any of the songs they have posted online, I find that You In Series sound almost like a screamo band without the screaming, with Lobeck's silky vocals tending to dance over patiently restrained guitar lines. The listener is essentially left waiting for a furious breakdown to crash and surge or a searing vocal that never ends up coming. To add to this, Brian McTernan wraps the whole package up in accordance with the blueprint he used on Circa Survive's Juturna, giving the record a strangely similar sound to the aforementioned work. The overall sound thus makes for a clean, polished presentation, but therein lies the problem that ensnares You In Series. The subsequent impression is that the band is a little too safe and pedestrian for its own good on occasions, leaving the listener frustrated that the band fails to consistently realize the brilliance they are so obviously capable of. I almost feel that I need to go see the guys play live to get a splash of the energy that is so carefully curtailed on this record. In the end, Outside We Are Fine ends up being an infallibly persuasive exercise in assertion of potential, but in the end, comes across being a little too one-dimensional to realize everything that I feel You In Series is truly capable of. That said, I really dig the band's sound and look forward to great things from them in the future.
Thin Dark Line, Circa Survive, Facing New York, Thrice, Portugal the Man