Rapid Fire Reviews: 8/22

Creative Adult – Fear of Life

I wasn’t really too sure what to expect when I began listening to Creative Adult’s newest release,Fear Of Life. I knew who they were, yet, never really gave a chance per say. At first listen – staring at the ceiling whilst lying on my couch – the opening track “Connected” powers through a wide spectrum of musical styles that surprised me when I realized that 8 minutes later, I was still on the same track! It’s only fitting that an album begins and concludes with dynamic 8 and a half-minute tracks that perfectly encapsulate the entire record. Between them lie a collection of songs that fuse a plethora of different moods and emotions. Ranging from simple straightforward punk rock, to a psychedelic tone, each track seems almost unique. Not only do I appreciate the fact that the tracks range in not only catchy guitar riffs, but that each instrument is audibly distinct. The bass grooves can be followed just as much as the drum beats and poignant guitars in a manner that is well orchestrated. At times, it may be easy to single out certain tracks and agree that some may stand out more than others, such as the single “Moving Window,” however, much of the credit should be attributed to vocalist Scott Phillips and his burly singing style which really brings out the doomy and at times slow-motion emotional lyrical aspects interlaced well within the entire record. The record allows one to draw comparisons to bands like Joy Division or Ceremony, however, I believe that Creative Adult have crafted something unique with their amalgam of techniques and approaches that really make for a solid sophomore record.

Score: 7.5/10

My Iron Lung – Learn To Leave

I’ve always had a soft spot for hardworking, honest, DIY sounding bands. San Diego’s My Iron Lung is definitely one of those bands that I’ve latched onto within the last 3 years, and to be honest, I’m finding it very difficult to root against them. After their 2014 release Relief; a raw, emotional, yet not too polished record, I was excited for what the band had in store. With the release of Learn To Leave, though they did meet my expectations, they definitely proved their intentions as a band still trying to truly find themselves. Through and through the album teeters on the border between pop-punk and post-hardcore, a combo that some bands attempt, yet not so much in the way that My Iron Lung does. The dark gloomy guitar tones in some tracks offset by the catchy guitar melodies in others create this almost haunting atmosphere, yet you never get the sense that they’re trying to prove themselves to you. The aspect I seem to respect most about this band is not only their no-frills approach, but also their lack of pretentiousness to go along with it. The emotion and honesty embedded well within the lyrics set the stage for Matthew Fitzpatrick’s perfectly timed outbursts of genuinely crude vocals. Certain songs however, attempt to infuse soft clean polished choruses with said sudden turn to powerful impassioned bursts of anger, but to no avail. Don’t get me wrong, the record is solid through and through, and the DIY, under polished sound still catches my attention, but the fact that they’re still seemingly seesawing between pop punk and hardcore, leads me to believe that this band is nowhere near done, they just haven’t reached their full potential just yet.

Score: 7/10

For Everest – We Are At Home In the Body

Since their 2014 EP release, For Everest have been on the radar as a “band to watch.” And rightfully so. Not only have they cemented their place in the melodic emo scene, but they’ve done so in monumental fashion. For Everest is led by vocalists and lyricists Sarah Cowell and Nick Pitman, who together, create a dual vocalist, push-pull dynamic that is reminiscent of The World is a Beautiful Place…(TWIABP). Coincidentally, the album as produced by Chris Teti, at the same studio where Harmlessness was done. Much like the aforementioned album, We Are At Home In The Body presents with a similar thematic weight, in this case, much of the lyrics focusing on mental health, the effects of drugs needed to feel “normal,” as well as it’s effects on the human body. What ties the underlying themes together can be credited in large part to the vocal performances given by Cowell and Pitman. Cowell shines throughout the entire album, more notably in my opinion on track 5 “I’m a Boxcar Buried Inside A Quarry,” as she belts out emotional and honest lyrics that aren’t in the least way subtle, “I don’t want a body, If I’m just a body, Don’t touch me.” The album is layered with deep meaning with other such lyrics as “I take what they tell me to feel like myself, but I’m not so sure of when I became someone else,” from track 4, “Slurpee Pt.2”. Not only does Cowell impress, but the accompanying vocals by Pitman offer, in my opinion, a representation of a conversation not just between two people, but a dialogue within one’s own mind. Together they create a comforting, yet complex experience that doesn’t hold back on true feelings. There’s a lot more one can say or interpret about this record, and although it may be an oversimplification of how much I think people should check this band and record out, I can only say one thing: I highly recommend it, for anyone.

Score: 9/10