speakhandsforme
08/30/07, 03:10 PM
Finding Windemere - My Getaway
Record Label: Standby Records
Release Date: May 9, 2006
Few things seem to be able to dictate my gag-reflex like the modern scene for pop-punk garage bands. It seems if a band of the pop-punk persuasion is any good, their arrival and sustained presence on the grand scale can be expected like the rising of a morning sun. Just over one year ago, I found myself attending a very small show in the town of Carlinville, Illinois. I was there with some friends to watch and support some good local bands. In that tiny building (no more than 20 by 40 feet), I stumbled upon a relatively popular melodic pop-punk band from Dayton, Ohio named Finding Windemere. Already laced with sweat from their pre-show ritual (cruising in their van with the heat on full blast, summer or not), they assembled a five-song live set that completely blew me away, along with the company with which I was attending the show. They started the show with a fast, fun track entitled, "It Takes Two to Tango," that addressed such issues as womanizing and, of course, dancing. To avoid commentating on the concert's entirety, I'll fast forward to their last song of the night, "Another Summer Night." One of my favorites off the album, it's a solid pop-rock song, including solid musicianship and catchy group-vocals, with lyrics concerning nostalgia, inspirational philosophy, and wanting to relive those Friday nights of yesteryear. Though amazed, I would not have thought then that I'd be looking back on that night (of more than music, too, mind you) with the damp-eyed half-grin that I do now.
Now, I've seen many pop-punk bands play in my day (Saves the Day, New Found Glory, The Academy Is..., Fall Out Boy) but this group put forth some of the catchiest songs and one of the tightest live performance I have ever seen. With tight instrumental execution, near perfect vocals, and limitless stage charisma, the group’s live set would even exceed their impressive studio product. Utilizing beautiful lyrics that render even the hardest listener prone to lapse into reminiscence, the group brings poetic greatness to an already solid compilation. Now, these lyrics that I speak of do not have especially "intellectual" or metaphoric value that you might want or expect from groups like Brand New, Say Anything, or The Receiving End of Sirens, but they do have those instantly appealing pop-punk lyrics that you can always directly relate to. From slow, mellow ballads like “Settle Down Kid,” to fast, energetic tracks like “It Takes Two to Tango,” Finding Windemere’s My Getaway rivals some of the better albums on the vast pop-punk spectrum.
Several months ago, the group broke up, leaving in their wake one of the catchiest and undoubtedly under appreciated albums I’d ever seen created. From arguably today’s most productive genre has come yet another gem to be added to the unorganized pile of CDs residing on my nightstand that frequent my stereo. The availability of My Getaway is certainly dwindling, and I cannot stress how highly I recommend picking up this treasure while you still can. It is available for $5 with FREE shipping here (http://standbyrecords.bigcartel.com/product/finding-windemere-my-getaway).
Recommended if you like: The Academy Is…, Number One Fan, Spitalfield
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/findingwindemere) | Buy now (http://standbyrecords.bigcartel.com/product/finding-windemere-my-getaway)
"Don't look into those eyes and try to make sense of it...because everything you are is confident" - Settle Down Kid
Record Label: Standby Records
Release Date: May 9, 2006
Few things seem to be able to dictate my gag-reflex like the modern scene for pop-punk garage bands. It seems if a band of the pop-punk persuasion is any good, their arrival and sustained presence on the grand scale can be expected like the rising of a morning sun. Just over one year ago, I found myself attending a very small show in the town of Carlinville, Illinois. I was there with some friends to watch and support some good local bands. In that tiny building (no more than 20 by 40 feet), I stumbled upon a relatively popular melodic pop-punk band from Dayton, Ohio named Finding Windemere. Already laced with sweat from their pre-show ritual (cruising in their van with the heat on full blast, summer or not), they assembled a five-song live set that completely blew me away, along with the company with which I was attending the show. They started the show with a fast, fun track entitled, "It Takes Two to Tango," that addressed such issues as womanizing and, of course, dancing. To avoid commentating on the concert's entirety, I'll fast forward to their last song of the night, "Another Summer Night." One of my favorites off the album, it's a solid pop-rock song, including solid musicianship and catchy group-vocals, with lyrics concerning nostalgia, inspirational philosophy, and wanting to relive those Friday nights of yesteryear. Though amazed, I would not have thought then that I'd be looking back on that night (of more than music, too, mind you) with the damp-eyed half-grin that I do now.
Now, I've seen many pop-punk bands play in my day (Saves the Day, New Found Glory, The Academy Is..., Fall Out Boy) but this group put forth some of the catchiest songs and one of the tightest live performance I have ever seen. With tight instrumental execution, near perfect vocals, and limitless stage charisma, the group’s live set would even exceed their impressive studio product. Utilizing beautiful lyrics that render even the hardest listener prone to lapse into reminiscence, the group brings poetic greatness to an already solid compilation. Now, these lyrics that I speak of do not have especially "intellectual" or metaphoric value that you might want or expect from groups like Brand New, Say Anything, or The Receiving End of Sirens, but they do have those instantly appealing pop-punk lyrics that you can always directly relate to. From slow, mellow ballads like “Settle Down Kid,” to fast, energetic tracks like “It Takes Two to Tango,” Finding Windemere’s My Getaway rivals some of the better albums on the vast pop-punk spectrum.
Several months ago, the group broke up, leaving in their wake one of the catchiest and undoubtedly under appreciated albums I’d ever seen created. From arguably today’s most productive genre has come yet another gem to be added to the unorganized pile of CDs residing on my nightstand that frequent my stereo. The availability of My Getaway is certainly dwindling, and I cannot stress how highly I recommend picking up this treasure while you still can. It is available for $5 with FREE shipping here (http://standbyrecords.bigcartel.com/product/finding-windemere-my-getaway).
Recommended if you like: The Academy Is…, Number One Fan, Spitalfield
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/findingwindemere) | Buy now (http://standbyrecords.bigcartel.com/product/finding-windemere-my-getaway)
"Don't look into those eyes and try to make sense of it...because everything you are is confident" - Settle Down Kid