The Silent Press
We Started A Thunderstorm
(self-released)
www.thesilentpress.com

The Silent Press has a touch of emo in their sonic makeup. But then again, you can say the same thing about many of today's urgent sounding groups. But this band separates themselves from their whiny contemporaries because of surprisingly complex instrumentation. Much forethought, as well as emotion, went into the creation of the CD We Started A Thunderstorm.

This disc opens with "Swallow The Fuse," which is sparked by ringing guitars that bring to mind U2's The Edge. In contrast, the atmospheric vibe in "Release Form" touches upon Radiohead's addictive moodiness. The instrumental "Small Bears" reveals this act's musical sophistication, as it quietly moves to a groove with distinctly Bossa Nova-ian guitar elements.

Lyrically, The Silent Press - in contrast to their name -- are not at all quiet about their anger. They sing vitriolic goodbye (i.e. kiss off) words during "The Exit," for instance:"Here's the door and there's the street/I hope you find it difficult to sleep."

The emo-ization of today's music scene makes it disturbingly inbred at times. It's almost as if everybody's copying off of everybody else's term paper, then turning in - not coincidentally - similar essays. And that's why a group like The Silent Press is so important. You come away with the optimistic impression that The Silent Press will be standing tall and apart from the pack - after everything in the post-emo era shakes out.

-Dan MacIntosh

Track Listing:
1. Swallow The Fuse
2. Release Form
3. The Fastest Time
4. Branchless Tree
5. The Exit
6. Small Bears
7. Secret Embraces
8. In Traffic
9. Charge Or Put In fire
10. Courage To Confess
11. It's Always There
12. Understanding The Ocean

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