Stuart Wicke - acoustic guitar (1, 2, 6, 8), electric guitar (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9), bass (7), voice (1 - 9) Isaac Poole - bass (5, 9), electric guitar (1, 3, 6) Cliff Schweickart - bass (1, 3, 6) Andr
@meme-farmer requested review, ok let’s go
track 1-simple beauty
K: there are moments in this song where if this were guitar hero, youd get that little “band momentarily failed” message pop up (specificially around 0.37) and i kind of like these little moments if they felt more purposeful than not. the mesh between the electric and acoustic is a little awkward at times (id consider a little less distortion and a touch more reverb.) the lyrics are so solid and great and yet the delivery at times could use a little more melody. I love the “I take no pleasure” parts. i dont know at times the electric just sounds too harsh and seperate from everything else. like its a non stop solo or something. turn it down, let the band be one and all that cliche stuff. that actual electric solo in the middle was enjoyable but could have used a bit of repeating octaves, i liked the ending solo best. “i know you love something, you’re still so young” ugh, great. from 3.30 to the end i think it was at its peak
D: As terrific as the electric guitar sounds, it does dominate the song and comes off as indulgently rock god-ish.
track 2-love death-
K: i dont know why i get such a barenaked ladies taste in my mouth. this song goes in so many directions. the foundation is really great but the guitar creeps over it too much. the solo at two minutes was absolutely grrreat though. the groove of this song works but when there are too many layered parts and the electric just screams over everything it gets really claustrophobic. not to say there aren’t some incredible things going on there.
D: I really liked the pace of this song, it’s very driven, jarring and gritty - strokes and arctic monkeys comes to mind. The acoustic guitar was nice but ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ with all that’s going on in the background. Great though!
track 3-dreadful things
K: by far my favorite so far. this would be a great place to rest and place some roots. drums are way too separated and generic from the rest of the band. there needs to be a slow slow quick balance there. i cant really describe it because i dont play the drums but i play the guitar and rhythm is everything. here drums are the biggest issue, too loud and too rushed. this song would be killer if that could just find some consistency.
D: It starts out eerie and solemn and then the band’s established energy comes back. I have to agree with K about the percussion- I also don’t play drums but the time signature is constantly changing (it seems) and it sounds like it impacts the rest of the band; reaching those high/low notes for the vocalist and just the rest of the band keeping up and not rushing.
track 4-wyoming-
K: i like this song. everything is working together and all the parts are matching and fitting. lyrics are great, vocals sound pretty good. i would change the falsetto in the ‘you’ chorus, not bad just not right.
D: Same and I wish it was longer!
track 5-i will let you down-
K: oohhhh my god beautiful. neil young ish good rock vibes and it’s trans-formative. when things get into that little slow jam and jump back into the chorus its just lovely. i lied before, the roots should be planted here.
D: This is really well constructed and developed; everyone is cohesive, the lyrics are relateable and real.
track 6-friends-
K: get it bass solid here. i like this song, although again the guitar parts could be a little more standard and less solo-ish sounding. pick a FEW repeating parts for verses/intros and keep it tight. i like this song a lot, lots of great things are working together here. ‘dont get me wrong’ beatles vibes but as a compliment? really good here.
D: The tempo change was a good shout.
track 7-east main-
K:hey hey, this is a pretty good intro til the electric strum pattern gets too carried away. i like this song a lot. the instrumental guitar parts sound goooood and the bass here is really nice too. a really solid tune all over.
D: This is my favourite; great electric tune and the lyrics read like the Book of Proverbs. The cymbals at the end make the outro sound ever so microscopically messy
track 8-i love you too
K: the electric guitar is not always necessary. i would consider getting a few more distortion/reverb pedals because these parts are starting to blur together. im not exactly sure how i feel about this one.
D: I’d like to hear more of the acoustic but like ‘I will let you down’, this is all really cohesive.
track 9-bethany
K: greattt intro, great song, great bass.
D: I would have to agree. Great lyric ‘Darkness is darkness no matter how strong’.
overall-
K: lacks identity and i want to say preparation without sounding like this was just put together overnight. there are so many good moments like in bethany, dreadful things, i will let you down.. there are just a few kinks instrumentally that arent always skill but sometimes taste and selection and engineering of the layering in the track.
D: Yeah, the thing I found with the vocal was it felt like I was in a crowded, bustled room and was being serenaded to from across it. Voice is committed and follows through but it isn’t expressive enough to match the evocative lyrics.
K: this album is really honest and really muddy in that good kind of way. I would listen to bethany and i will let you down (D: East Main , too) again but that’s probably it. i enjoyed vocals mostly but needs some distinction (conviction is there 100% )