|
Hayes absolutely brims with phony grandiosity and predictable
crescendos of guitar that rise and fall with the torturously emoted
vocals. It's not that Aaron Smart's voice can't stretch a melody
with a slow burn when he wants to; it's just that he sings like he's
doing the b-actor version of sincere, sounding out each syllable like
it could be his very last. Some people swear by this kind of maudlin
rock, but I just impatiently wait for something to happen, discomfited
by both the vaguely whimpering tones and the gutted remnants of punk
and hard rock that flail around the periphery.
Eleven had a promising moment out the gate. "Necktie"
at least sounds like a serviceable robbery of Radiohead, atmospheric
without being overdone. From there on out, it's a by-the-numbers diluted
riff fest with vocals that rise and break into distortion on the high
notes before becoming murmured and unintelligible. "Hussy"
has a good title but when you hear the lyric "the tears of a
clown they fall in blue" and realize that no one's pulling your
leg, you're likely to become as irritable about it as I was. Continuing
through the rest of the album at this point would be pure, uncharitable
bloodsport and I can't bring myself to do it. Suffice it is to say,
this kind of music makes the barest of impressions on me, just enough
to get me swatting.
I can't help but repeatedly reference the FUSE music channel whenever
I come across a CD of this ilk, and trust me the number of musicians
churning out this brand of sensitive rock-esque wannabe pop swill
far outbreed a cicada swarm. Whenever I flip past FUSE, I'm always
a bit befuddled by the bands, these backburner major label projects
half-heartedly promoted or Screamo unknowns who craft music that's
polished and formulaic but devoid of the kind of ephemeral charm
that might catapult it into a slice of top forty market share. (Not
for lack of trying, mind you) It's difficult to criticize music
this anonymous and sterile without sounding like a total prick.
For all the emo die hards out there, here's another one to toss
on the stack, for the rest of us, it's just one more for the pyre.
-Terry Sawyer
Track Listing:
1. Necktie
2. Asinimaha
3. Anyone
4. Royal Flush
5. Juice
6. Campaign
7. Breakout
8. Hussy
9. Oblivion
10. Meltdown
11. I Will Walk
 Talk
Back
e-mail the chief
Like this article?
e-mail
it to a friend!
|
Hayes
