Jeremy Aaron
08/15/08, 08:48 AM
Split Fifty - Swing from Her Fingernails
Record Label: Masquerade Recordings
Release Date: October 9, 2007
Split Fifty once had the dubious distinction of being named one of Alternative Press’ Hometown Heroes. They are also another band in the long line of faux-goth collectives employing the walking cadaver aesthetic. Literature fans with a remotely discerning eye for editing will find the original script that accompanies the concept album of (surprise!) love and tragedy to be riddled with errors. For many, this would probably be three strikes against the band, but Split Fifty are hardly out. They hit a home run where it matters most – with the music.
The press release for the album points out that these guys have a rabid fan base in their home state of Pennsylvania. This isn’t the least bit surprising. Their music is hard to categorize, but it would definitely be palatable for a wide audience. Pop-punk fans will enjoy the upbeat and catchy hooks. Despite the almost sunny-sounding melodies, the darker subject matter will be a hit with the Despair Faction and the like. Plus, the music straddles that line of “heavy enough, but not too heavy,” so fans of today’s rock radio would also be drawn in by it.
Split Fifty have written Swing From Her Fingernails as a “rock musical” of sorts. Some of the tracks have titles like “Overture in A Minor,” “Diablo Serenade,” and “Concerto Dei Morti,” which gives the impression that the band have written some classical-leaning pieces. Although strings and piano are featured at times on the album, they are mainly there to add an occasional bit of flair to otherwise guitar-based pop-rock. The strings and chant-like vocal that appear during parts of “Overture in A Minor” contrast with the straight-ahead rock of the rest of the song. The piano that opens “Concerto Dei Morti” is oddly reminiscent of Waking Ashland’s “Salt Lake Jam,” before it too evolves into a more mainstream rock song, albeit with a slight avant-garde tint.
Perhaps most surprising is how polished it all sounds. Without the aid of a big-name producer or the backing of a prominent label, the album nonetheless sounds poised for mass consumption. Sure there’s the occasional misstep in the lyrics (“Gotta stop drop and roll, there’s a fire in my heart again” on “Inpatient Out”), but that’s really harmless. There’s also some lyrical repetitiveness and some choruses repeated at least one time too many, most notably on the aforementioned “Concerto Dei Morti,” but Split Fifty wouldn’t be the first band guilty of that. For the most part, though, the lyrics are actually strong. The band stick to telling their story in mostly literal terms, instead of trying to be clever or cryptic, and it suits the concept well.
In setting out to create a grand rock opus, Split Fifty have at least succeeded in producing an enjoyable rock record without the pretense of most attempts at a concept album. The band has prevailed in finding the balance between entertaining their audience and indulging in their own creative motivations.
Bayside; Alkaline Trio; My Chemical Romance
myspace.com/splitfifty (http://www.myspace.com/splitfifty)
Record Label: Masquerade Recordings
Release Date: October 9, 2007
Split Fifty once had the dubious distinction of being named one of Alternative Press’ Hometown Heroes. They are also another band in the long line of faux-goth collectives employing the walking cadaver aesthetic. Literature fans with a remotely discerning eye for editing will find the original script that accompanies the concept album of (surprise!) love and tragedy to be riddled with errors. For many, this would probably be three strikes against the band, but Split Fifty are hardly out. They hit a home run where it matters most – with the music.
The press release for the album points out that these guys have a rabid fan base in their home state of Pennsylvania. This isn’t the least bit surprising. Their music is hard to categorize, but it would definitely be palatable for a wide audience. Pop-punk fans will enjoy the upbeat and catchy hooks. Despite the almost sunny-sounding melodies, the darker subject matter will be a hit with the Despair Faction and the like. Plus, the music straddles that line of “heavy enough, but not too heavy,” so fans of today’s rock radio would also be drawn in by it.
Split Fifty have written Swing From Her Fingernails as a “rock musical” of sorts. Some of the tracks have titles like “Overture in A Minor,” “Diablo Serenade,” and “Concerto Dei Morti,” which gives the impression that the band have written some classical-leaning pieces. Although strings and piano are featured at times on the album, they are mainly there to add an occasional bit of flair to otherwise guitar-based pop-rock. The strings and chant-like vocal that appear during parts of “Overture in A Minor” contrast with the straight-ahead rock of the rest of the song. The piano that opens “Concerto Dei Morti” is oddly reminiscent of Waking Ashland’s “Salt Lake Jam,” before it too evolves into a more mainstream rock song, albeit with a slight avant-garde tint.
Perhaps most surprising is how polished it all sounds. Without the aid of a big-name producer or the backing of a prominent label, the album nonetheless sounds poised for mass consumption. Sure there’s the occasional misstep in the lyrics (“Gotta stop drop and roll, there’s a fire in my heart again” on “Inpatient Out”), but that’s really harmless. There’s also some lyrical repetitiveness and some choruses repeated at least one time too many, most notably on the aforementioned “Concerto Dei Morti,” but Split Fifty wouldn’t be the first band guilty of that. For the most part, though, the lyrics are actually strong. The band stick to telling their story in mostly literal terms, instead of trying to be clever or cryptic, and it suits the concept well.
In setting out to create a grand rock opus, Split Fifty have at least succeeded in producing an enjoyable rock record without the pretense of most attempts at a concept album. The band has prevailed in finding the balance between entertaining their audience and indulging in their own creative motivations.
Bayside; Alkaline Trio; My Chemical Romance
myspace.com/splitfifty (http://www.myspace.com/splitfifty)