Labels: Deep Elm
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Deep Elm are an American label, and judging by this sampler, they tend to specialises in indie rock, with a load of emo thrown in for good measure. I was on the look out for their “emo diaries” compilations, but this cheapo (5 quid) label specific one was all I could find.
The best stuff on here is the emo-core, courtesy of the likes of Appleseed Cast, whose noisy and powerful “Marigold & Patchwork” leads off this 16 track CD. Slightly shouty vocals, yet tuneful. As with most of this sort of emo stuff, albums are the best way to get a full feel for the band. And this is a band you might want to get an album by.
Pave the Rocket do some less impressive emocore – they seem more aimless, and never really get anywhere with their songs. This is when emo sucks. Bet you never thought you’d read that here, eh? Next up is Triple Fast Action, their first contribution is piss poor radio rock, but their second makes you wonder if its really the same band – “Eurogirl” is a fantastic tune, starting off minimal and slow, before escalating the noise, more guitars join in, and about the 150 second mark the whole thing crashes into some spectacular emocore rock.
Brandston offer up some pretty heavy sounding guitars, but not at the expense of a tune. There’s also a bit of Sensefield in there. Flanders and Pop Unknown both do mid-paced rock stuff, Pop Unknown being a bit emo-ey, whilst Oztralia’s Flanders have a small blob of Chamberlain in there [heh, this insert card that comes with it is dead useful as it lists some bands that Deep Elm thinks they are similar to! A reviewers dream…]. Though I do have to say that Flanders do sound a lot like those dubious unknown Aussie college rock bands you hear in the background on Neighbours when they are in the coffee shop and stuff. And then there is Camber, who donate one track of slow emo that has a much more intense chorus, and the other is erm, also emo, but I can’t think of any more descriptive words. Complex guitars perhaps. Whatever, good stuff on both.
Rounding it out are Walt Mink and Muckafurgason, who are both plain weird. Walt Mink do a sorta psychedelic / Redd Kross pop rock type song on “Brave Beyond The Call” (this beats the Dandy Warhols bums quite frankly), whilst Muckafurgason are a walking encyclopedia of musical styles. They have a track on here which showcases about 6 or 7 different album songs – each in a different style; punk, country, rap, acoustic. Blimey.
Worth hunting down if you’re on the look out for some new rock bands and are disatisfied with your overhyped regular fare.