Klatzke
10/22/08, 06:12 PM
Me As Time - Movement
Record Label: None
Release Date: August 19, 2008
Who?
An unsigned, low-key pop-rock band from New Hampshire that seems to be finally getting some recognition. They're also featured as one of AP.net's "Absolute 100" this year.
How is it?
Solid from start to finish. They've got a really cohesive sound for such a young band, and the electronics they use strike less as gimmick-y and more as an added effect. They don't rely on the electronics to control their sound, but instead use them sparsely to set a more ambient mood. Most of their songs don't follow what you'd expect in a pop album; the songs are long, they're not the infectious garbage that's overrunning the scene, and they keep it subdued.
The EP opens with the lines:
"Come on, come on can anybody here me? My senses tell me that I am deaf to the world."
From here, we're guided through five minutes of layered rock by the emotion-laden vocals and dueling guitars. This first track "Opaque" sets the mood for the EP right off the bat. It's got plenty of the pop appeal that's apparent throughout the entire album, and the great instrumentation that keeps the whole thing from falling into the mediocrity of so many other off-the-beaten-path pop albums. The two interlude-esque tracks, titled "The First Movement" and "The Final Movement," are another thing thing that sets this EP apart. These two tracks both contain slow, soft vocals that are sung over harsh static-y electronics. They really only help to further ingrain the nature of the EP. They know how to write a catchy song, and although there may not be those sing-along worthy infectious hooks, it's hard not to appreciate the great choruses and powerful vocals. It's actually kind of refreshing to see that they don't think they need to use hooks as crutches, and as far as I can see, they're standing fine on their own.
Movements, and of course, by extension Me As Time, are probably best because their sound has a few things that set it apart from the hordes of other pop and pop-rock bands. They're not ridiculously upbeat, they don't over saturate their music in hooks, and as far as I can tell, they're more concerned with their music than their image. Their style of subdued, low-key pop is truly refreshing. If this isn't enough to convince you that they're not your dime-a-dozen band of today, then I don't know what is. They may not be redrawing any genres, but they're leagues ahead of a lot of their contemporaries.
So They Say's Antidote for Irony; The Graduate
myspace.com/meastime (http://www.myspace.com/meastime)
Record Label: None
Release Date: August 19, 2008
Who?
An unsigned, low-key pop-rock band from New Hampshire that seems to be finally getting some recognition. They're also featured as one of AP.net's "Absolute 100" this year.
How is it?
Solid from start to finish. They've got a really cohesive sound for such a young band, and the electronics they use strike less as gimmick-y and more as an added effect. They don't rely on the electronics to control their sound, but instead use them sparsely to set a more ambient mood. Most of their songs don't follow what you'd expect in a pop album; the songs are long, they're not the infectious garbage that's overrunning the scene, and they keep it subdued.
The EP opens with the lines:
"Come on, come on can anybody here me? My senses tell me that I am deaf to the world."
From here, we're guided through five minutes of layered rock by the emotion-laden vocals and dueling guitars. This first track "Opaque" sets the mood for the EP right off the bat. It's got plenty of the pop appeal that's apparent throughout the entire album, and the great instrumentation that keeps the whole thing from falling into the mediocrity of so many other off-the-beaten-path pop albums. The two interlude-esque tracks, titled "The First Movement" and "The Final Movement," are another thing thing that sets this EP apart. These two tracks both contain slow, soft vocals that are sung over harsh static-y electronics. They really only help to further ingrain the nature of the EP. They know how to write a catchy song, and although there may not be those sing-along worthy infectious hooks, it's hard not to appreciate the great choruses and powerful vocals. It's actually kind of refreshing to see that they don't think they need to use hooks as crutches, and as far as I can see, they're standing fine on their own.
Movements, and of course, by extension Me As Time, are probably best because their sound has a few things that set it apart from the hordes of other pop and pop-rock bands. They're not ridiculously upbeat, they don't over saturate their music in hooks, and as far as I can tell, they're more concerned with their music than their image. Their style of subdued, low-key pop is truly refreshing. If this isn't enough to convince you that they're not your dime-a-dozen band of today, then I don't know what is. They may not be redrawing any genres, but they're leagues ahead of a lot of their contemporaries.
So They Say's Antidote for Irony; The Graduate
myspace.com/meastime (http://www.myspace.com/meastime)