Labels: Keep It Together
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Jacob at KiTR insisted I review this despite it being sold out. Repress it then, jerk! Haha. Just kidding Jacob.
Last time I heard Sleep Bellum Sonno, it was on this CD they had made, and it was kind of not really my thing. They have sharpened matters up here. It’s still leaning a little further in a proggy / post-rocky guitar effect direction than I tend to go for, over which they throw in screamy vocals and a singer who sounds a tiny bit like one of the guys in Wrens. The noisier moments are better for me, but I suppose the overall summary is that musically this is not really my thing. Not that it’s awful, just, it simply doesn’t make the right connections in my brain.
Joie de Vivre have sadly split up. I put their LP out (well, Keith CYLS put their LP out, I just tried to sell some copies) and so I am biased, but they were fucking great. I want to hear what these guys get up to next. This tape was indicating that there were good things to come. Other than a Pedro the Lion cover. Never was down with that dude. However, “YOu Ruined Everything That Was Ever Good” is fucking off the hook. After I heard it I told a guy in the band they should write more “fast” songs like this one. Then they split up. It’s my fault. Anyway, this one rolls mightily. By a cats whisker it is probably their “fastest” song, all swinging guitar chimes and emoted vocals. It riffs so good, and sounds like Sundays Best. A total rocker. “Another Month, Another Season” is more what you’d expect. Sad and slow with the emo vocals getting it going again, before it explodes into swirling guitars. I believe he sings “I think I drink too much now”. If so, all emo bastards can get behind that one. I love Joie de Vivre. I know more words in their songs than any band since the Promise Ring I think. Thank you guys.