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I get so apathetic listening to a lot of the bands out there
today, and frankly I get depressed. Depressed for the music
scene, depressed about what it could be. Depressed for the youth
of tomorrow being fed corporate bullshit, and not knowing there
is better out there. And finally, depressed for those rare few
bands, that have to wallow in the murk created by said corporations
because they don't fit into the in vogue bankable statement
of the moment. This state of desperation comes in waves for
me; I listen to endless wave of crap after crap thinking the
end has finally come for the one thing I truly hold sacred in
this world: good music. And then there is light.
Finding a good band like Monday's Hero is more than a breathe
of fresh air; it is a pure state of euphoria for someone like
me who is so damn picky about what they listen to. Rarely do I
get a band to review that I would have actually purchased had
I known about them. This band strikes right to my core, asking
questions and giving answers in kind, and most important, giving
me hope that there are other bands out there, yet to be found,
who can make me feel again.
Technically this band would qualify as emo, or indie rock; there
is a heavy emphasis on guitars and vocals, although the rest of
the band remains just as prescient. It is precisely these two
elements that set the band apart, achieving an energy and success
not seen elsewhere. Taking simple guitar lines, the songs are
mixed together in such a way as to create unconventional music.
The breaks between the elements show a true skill in sculpting
of the songs. I always appreciate bands that can come up with
interesting changes between parts, and I was especially pleased
with Monday's Hero.
The vocals also use a simple effect to produce an exponential
result: the third. Almost every song uses the vocal third between
the main line and back-up to give so much depth and character,
that it is a wonder more bands don't use this highly hypnotic
idea to amplify ordinary vocal lines. Having so much back-up
vocal should have become annoying, but they just pulled it off
so well that I could not wait for the next song.
This album is just good. There are a lot of very memorable
songs; from "Sans Parasol" to "Beautiful"
the album is solid. By far and large my favorite track would
have to be "Sometimes The Midwest Sky's Enough" which
I continued to skip back to. Even if the whole album were crap,
I would still have bought it just to have that one song. But
fortunately for you and me it is the complete opposite, it is
a jewel to be listened to and treasured.
-Bishop
Track Listing:
1. Sans Parasol
2. For Whom
3. In The Key
4. My Paper Division
5. Sometimes The Midwest Sky's Enough
6. The Engraver
7. In Medias Res
8. Black Dress
9. Junipers
10. A Second Letter
11. Beautiful
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