Blake Solomon
08/21/08, 02:32 PM
One Small Step For Landmines – Good Men Die Young and I’m Not Feeling Well EP
Record Label: Civil Defense League
Release Date: June 10, 2008
Who?
One Small Step For Landmines has been orchestrating their breakout for some time. Releasing new takes on nostalgic midwestern emo with plenty of pop-punk catchiness – and collaborating with Jim Ward - might take them where they so desperately want to be.
How Is It?
Good Men Die Young and I’m Not Feeling Well might last only 9 minutes, but try and not replay the thing to death. Two takes on the title track, one by the band and one by Jim Ward, show how easily a good song can be manipulated without losing its appeal. Ward’s version is much slower, and much more mournful. His foray into the alt-folk of Sleepercar is extremely apparent on this track. The band’s manifestation exudes energy while Kevin Allen’s scratchy vocals ring in the most melodic of ways. Driving drumbeats, choral round-like harmonizing and sometimes-heavy guitars make this track a complex wonder. B-side “Drugs and Religion” uses moderate tempos and angsty yells as its identifiers. Allen’s lyrics should also be noted, as he never sounds too trite or juvenile: (“I hate to see you go / We were just getting to know each other / Wish that we could have come down together”). His vocals may get a smidge nasally, but this band should feel comfortable with him leading the way. One Small Step for Landmines has all the necessary tools, and it shouldn’t be long before they’ve built quite a steady career.
Recommended If You Like: Rites of Spring, closing metaphors, Fairweather, praising a lack of triteness by being trite, The Get Up Kids
www.myspace.com/onesmallstepforlandmines
Record Label: Civil Defense League
Release Date: June 10, 2008
Who?
One Small Step For Landmines has been orchestrating their breakout for some time. Releasing new takes on nostalgic midwestern emo with plenty of pop-punk catchiness – and collaborating with Jim Ward - might take them where they so desperately want to be.
How Is It?
Good Men Die Young and I’m Not Feeling Well might last only 9 minutes, but try and not replay the thing to death. Two takes on the title track, one by the band and one by Jim Ward, show how easily a good song can be manipulated without losing its appeal. Ward’s version is much slower, and much more mournful. His foray into the alt-folk of Sleepercar is extremely apparent on this track. The band’s manifestation exudes energy while Kevin Allen’s scratchy vocals ring in the most melodic of ways. Driving drumbeats, choral round-like harmonizing and sometimes-heavy guitars make this track a complex wonder. B-side “Drugs and Religion” uses moderate tempos and angsty yells as its identifiers. Allen’s lyrics should also be noted, as he never sounds too trite or juvenile: (“I hate to see you go / We were just getting to know each other / Wish that we could have come down together”). His vocals may get a smidge nasally, but this band should feel comfortable with him leading the way. One Small Step for Landmines has all the necessary tools, and it shouldn’t be long before they’ve built quite a steady career.
Recommended If You Like: Rites of Spring, closing metaphors, Fairweather, praising a lack of triteness by being trite, The Get Up Kids
www.myspace.com/onesmallstepforlandmines