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In the landscape of emo-indie-rock-post-hardcore, it is sometimes
daunting to find a good band. For me especially, I get saturated with,
well, a bunch of crap,so much that I get a bit jaded. So what do I
have to do? Lower my standards? Pretend like there aren't a bunch
of faceless, sound-alikes out there? I don't know, but in the meantime
I do get the occasional middle of the roads that don't get thrown
into the Bargain Basement pile.
Desole is one such band. On one side you have this talented
band that can produce some really good hooks, but on the other, you
feel like you are listening to a cut-and-paste version of Strung
Out that aspires to reach the Youth Group level. And really,
I can't fault the band specifically for this, it just seems to be
a reccurring theme for producers to take out that mold and make whatever
band fit. Add on top of that a lackluster approach to the energy and
you end up with a ho-hum album.
I just can't get away from the production, like a rubbernecker at
a minor fender-bender, I wonder how it happened. There is so much
potential for the band to achieve some excellent highs, but little
momentum is captured, making a lot of sweat on the part of the artists
not pay off. Even excellent written break-out points like in "Gossip"
feel more forced than natural. Drums seem reined in to the point of
choking, and guitars feel constricted and blasé. Overall the
tempo could be turned up a notch or two, I find myself leaning forward
in my chair just trying to give myself the illusion it is going faster.
Is it a bad album? No, not really, it's just that I have to listen
between the lines to find the truth here. The aforementioned "Gossip"
is quite good and their "Instrumental" will probably have
me coming back for more. Not all of these bands are the same, but
production inadequately done can quickly lump good bands in with the
rest of the mediocre ones. So consider this a career warning for Desole,
you are on the map, now we expect more of you next time.
-bishop
Track listing:
1) Personal
2) Gossip
3) Opposites Attract
4) Shadow Girl
5) Instrumental
6) Danger Danger
7) Familiar Pills
8) For Just One Reason
9) Count Your Friends
10) Illustrate The Actress
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