Scott Irvine
04/06/07, 04:35 PM
A Burning Water - We Can See the Sky From Here
Released June 28th, 2005
Negative Progression Records
I’d love to go back in time, spoon-feed Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood a little Minor Threat and Black Flag and watch Radiohead’s outcome just to prove the dumbass critic who labeled A Burning Water’s sound as “if Radiohead grew up listening to hardcore” wrong. My hatred for such lazy, contrived comparisons knows no bounds. The same could be said when the latter adjectives are applied musically. We Can See the Sky From Here is a far-cry from being anywhere near as revolutionary as albums like Kid A and lacks any real substance Thom Yorke and Co. have been known to carry with them through repeated successes. This Santa Cruz quartet isn’t a complete disaster as there are a few gems here to write home about. However, even a cursory listen will leave most frustrated with the soupy consistency this album serves up. From balls-deep hardcore scorn to pussy-whipped hard rock esteem, this is seemingly just another album.
Shelling out an impossible act of conflicting elements into a hopelessly ambiguous metaphor band names settle for all too often, A Burning Water seem fairly enthused to warp familiar indie cargo into a progressive post-hardcore [al]ready-made. It sounds like throwing Skittles-sized elements of The Bends (oops, I succumbed on myself) at The Bleeding Alarm and hearing Solidity tip-toe away in the opposite direction. “Missiles and Markers” is a somewhat reliable example. A technical guitar flex courtesy of Ash Moore and a choppy bass insertion from Gideon Naude makes for an interesting intro-thru-verse. Though, the pseudo-profound chorus chant coordinate to disappointingly drained instrumentation ruins what should have been the pinnacle to the song’s progressively mounting innovation. The aptly titled “Instrumental” illuminates a sort of artsy side to the band, what with searing studio-born flybys, quivering guitars, and the occasional trumpet in the background. It’s a necessary interlude to the album that lets the listener escape grainy screams and Brian Link’s frequently overconfident range ("Patience Is Me"). Link isn’t what I would consider a notable vocalist or lyricist, but he has his moments. Hell, he’s the only one that manages to keep “In Failed Attempts” and “Retract” from taking on water. There’s a little left to be desired from his, and arguably the rest of the band, overall performance.
While I’d argue to my death that these guys aren't a hardcore mock-up of Radiohead, A Burning Water seems to be heading in a safe direction away from a rather aimless genre devoid of anything really new. We Can See the Sky From Here is most likely already collecting dust in the bargain bins, but let’s see about looking out for this band’s next release, eh?
Released June 28th, 2005
Negative Progression Records
I’d love to go back in time, spoon-feed Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood a little Minor Threat and Black Flag and watch Radiohead’s outcome just to prove the dumbass critic who labeled A Burning Water’s sound as “if Radiohead grew up listening to hardcore” wrong. My hatred for such lazy, contrived comparisons knows no bounds. The same could be said when the latter adjectives are applied musically. We Can See the Sky From Here is a far-cry from being anywhere near as revolutionary as albums like Kid A and lacks any real substance Thom Yorke and Co. have been known to carry with them through repeated successes. This Santa Cruz quartet isn’t a complete disaster as there are a few gems here to write home about. However, even a cursory listen will leave most frustrated with the soupy consistency this album serves up. From balls-deep hardcore scorn to pussy-whipped hard rock esteem, this is seemingly just another album.
Shelling out an impossible act of conflicting elements into a hopelessly ambiguous metaphor band names settle for all too often, A Burning Water seem fairly enthused to warp familiar indie cargo into a progressive post-hardcore [al]ready-made. It sounds like throwing Skittles-sized elements of The Bends (oops, I succumbed on myself) at The Bleeding Alarm and hearing Solidity tip-toe away in the opposite direction. “Missiles and Markers” is a somewhat reliable example. A technical guitar flex courtesy of Ash Moore and a choppy bass insertion from Gideon Naude makes for an interesting intro-thru-verse. Though, the pseudo-profound chorus chant coordinate to disappointingly drained instrumentation ruins what should have been the pinnacle to the song’s progressively mounting innovation. The aptly titled “Instrumental” illuminates a sort of artsy side to the band, what with searing studio-born flybys, quivering guitars, and the occasional trumpet in the background. It’s a necessary interlude to the album that lets the listener escape grainy screams and Brian Link’s frequently overconfident range ("Patience Is Me"). Link isn’t what I would consider a notable vocalist or lyricist, but he has his moments. Hell, he’s the only one that manages to keep “In Failed Attempts” and “Retract” from taking on water. There’s a little left to be desired from his, and arguably the rest of the band, overall performance.
While I’d argue to my death that these guys aren't a hardcore mock-up of Radiohead, A Burning Water seems to be heading in a safe direction away from a rather aimless genre devoid of anything really new. We Can See the Sky From Here is most likely already collecting dust in the bargain bins, but let’s see about looking out for this band’s next release, eh?