Little Compass "Discover" Review

[Rohan Kohli]

I've posted my review for Little Compass (http://www.littlecompass.com)' Discover right here (http://www.absolutepunk.net/reviews.php?action=viewarticle&artid=201).

[Bosnia]

"I think Little Compass, with a little maturation, can really make an impact with their next release"
It's definitely possible.

[In Dolorosa]

You're my boy Rohan!

[Rohan Kohli]

Uh, care to tell me just when The Get Up Kids became an emo band? I weren't aware they sounded like Rites Of Spring or Embrace. Maybe I wasn't listening correctly.

Do some research before you make statements like that. I love TGUK and TITR, but neither were emo, emo rock, emo punk, or any variation of that.

I never said they were any of those things. I said that Little Compass plays a brand of emo rock inspired by those bands. And please don't tell me Texas is the Reason wasn't at the forefront of the emo movement.

[kissbangkill]

texas represent. little compass are some great guys. great album

[Rohan Kohli]

Considering the emo movement was started in the 80's, yeah, I'd say you're way the fuck off base buddy. Emo wasn't The Promise Ring, Sunny Day Real Estate, and TITR, it was Embrace, Shotmaker, Rites Of Spring, Honeywell, Heroin.

I've heard this band, they may be TITR inspired, slightly, but they couldn't be farther away from real emo. Try again, kid.

Ok, so perhaps I didn't trace emo down to its very roots (I have no indie cred, shit!), but I still consider Texas is the Reason to be one of the leaders of the recent emo movement. You are correct in saying that Embrace, Shotmaker, etc were the original emo bands. You win. Happy?

And again, I never said they were real emo. I said they are inspired by older emo.

[ishotthepilot]

this was a really good, informative review. i've heard of Llittle Compass before, but only to the extent that theyre on the same label with a band called Little Yellow Box (which is kind of amusing). i'll have to go check em out, thanks.

ps. you have the coolest name ever.

[kittypants]

represent houston, texas music! at the same time, i think they suck HARD.

oh well.

[walkingonawire]

Yeahh those are my boys. Total sweethearts, who are tour right now too so if you see them, hug them. It's a fun record for sure, I wouldn't say emo just some good fun pop music and some rock and roll.

[Russ Hockenbury]

Shades of yesteryear...

Negative Progression has a knack for signing “sounds like” bands. Remember The Goodwill and their familiar brand of Movielife-esque NJ punk. Or how about Little Yellow Box’s style resembling that of ATDI, some would say the resemblance is a little too close. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing that these bands sound so much like their predecessors, it just makes you think someone at NP has a bit of marketing strategy. Following in the line of “sounds like” bands, is a Texas foursome by the name of Little Compass, most closely aligned with something out of Eudora, KS.

When I first listened to the band’s debut, aptly titled Discover, I didn’t quite pick up on the comparison that Negative Progression’s PR guy so desperately wanted me to hear. The primary thought that popped into my head was this guy’s voice is flat. Listen to “Letters” or “My Baby Lives in Rockdale” and tell me this is not so. Luckily, this genre of music doesn’t exactly require you to be Clay Aiken, but it helps if you can hold a note. After the first spin I was ready to relegate Little Compass to the cutout bin.

However, upon the second listen I began to hear the TGUK comparison. Vocalist David Michael does a have certain Matt Pryor air about him. In all honesty, Pryor’s voice isn’t exactly the greatest in his field either. It was Pryor’s delivery that made his music so memorable. We felt the “every man” in his voice. I can see where kids would identify with Michael’s love scorned lyrics and voice. While Pryor was content to sulk in the corner, Michael feels the need to go Senses Fail on his ex-girlfriends and detail his brutal revenge (“Nine Ways”).

At times, I would swear I was listening to the Promise Ring were it not for the lyrical content. Stitching words into lovers' eyes and electrocution are two topics the sweet, earnest Canadians never covered. If you’re going to pick two bands to sound like, then those two bands are ripe for the picking in a time where everyone is trying to mimic the slow, weathering drawl of Conor Oberst or the stinging emo-rock of a band like Matchbook Romance.

Recommended if you like: The Promise Ring, The Get Up Kids, 5 Days Ahead



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