Labels: Alone – Owsla
Review by: Andy Malcolm
More Pine! More Pine. Already. The first LP can only have come out 10 months or so ago? These chaps sure are productive. This is 10 more songs worth of the Pine in fact. Last years LP was probably my favourite records of the whole shooting match, and whilst 2003 is merely 40ish days old I have a feeling that “Lead Blocks For Feet” is going to occupy a similar place in my heart and a regular spot on my turntable.
If you too enjoyed their first LP then you will surely be weakened at the knees by this one. It is very much more of the same style of emo, featuring waves of distorted, melodic guitars that wash over you forcefully. It has bubbling, driving bass, clashing cymbals and Roger’s distinctive vocals. The Pine haven’t dramatically changed styles, they haven’t gone experimental, they haven’t hired a keyboard player or taken influence from Bhangra music. But it does sound like they have gotten faster. It could be my imagination but it does feel like a speedier record this time around. Indeed, there are moments wich remind me much more of the Hated than Evergreen this time around, but I am certainly not going to complain about that.
I love the atmosphere and the sound that the Pine have on their records, the music feels sad even when played at pace, and on the slower tracks such as “Sinking” they really conjure up an immense sound, dragging you deep down. The production (if that’s what you call it) is fantastic, totally raw, messy and scarred. Things get blurred. Things get scuffed up. It’s a thing to behold. Especially when they follow a song as slow and sludgey as that with the passion and fire of a faster song like “Follow You Home”, bringing the power and fuzz to maximum effect. Yow. I admire how the Pine’s aesthetic comes across as so DIY – the record covers are hand screened once more, the lyrics are hand written, and the fact that people connected with this band (not just those in it) seem to be incredibly nice, genuine and sincere folks.
This band is so hard to describe. And this review is all over the place. I’m unable to really do this justice. Suffice to say I think this record is incredible, I can’t wait to hear what this band does next and that I will be surprised if I hear any better in the coming months. For me, it stands above. Don’t ignore these guys, then go on to sell all your hardcore records and let the next generation spend $50 on this LP on E-Bay. Listen to the Pine now and become revitalised for this whole scene. Do it do it do it.