Labels: G7 Welcoming Committee
Review by: Ian Cavell
Canadian emo-punk sounded just great to me on paper and when the opening sounds of ‘Thousands a Year’ kicked in the stage is set for a band that make the kind of noise that the Get Up Kids and Alkaline Trio might produce if they merged and became a single entity. The lyrics to that particular song are just so touching and this band are more than capable of stirring the emotions. If I was to make a compilation of amazing songs I’ve heard this year – well, this song would be on it for sure.
And the rest of the album follows suite…more or less. Unfortunately it does have one or two ropey patches. You know, songs where you kind of get bored and your mind drifts off somewhere else. But nestled alongside these tracks are amazing songs that are both intelligent and ranging in diversity. Songs such ‘Landmine’ which utilises a piano and takes a more political aspect through the lyrics or more strangely ‘Nine AM’ which sees fit to slot a drum machine into the scheme of things. And it works amazingly well. In fact, its probably one of the best tracks on this album. Couple these up with beautifully relaxed efforts such as ‘Breakable Crust’ (with some truly excellent lyrics) and the keyboard enthused ‘These Unremarkable First Ten Years of Life’ and you have an album that is pretty essential to anyone who likes to dabble with that whole emotional punk thing.