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Secret Lives Of The Freemasons
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This Was Built To Make You Dance
Astro Magnetics
Release: 5/10/2005
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Rated:
Review by:
Morley Seaver
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It took a long time for me to get into this. I thought it was regular old screamo/emo, churn 'em out pillow stuffing. But there was just something that had me playing it over and over. Then I really listened. True, there is some angst-ridden screamo on here, but there's much more.
This North Carolina band has all the elements of the rest of the genre, but they have a leg up on the competition in a couple of areas. First, they have a three guitar attack that makes for a very full sound. There is some chording going on with some fleet-fingered picking over top. This must be a godsend in concert where the record can accurately be reproduced.
Second, their songwriting is way above the average, particularly the lyrics. And the guys have a sense of humor. Witness some song titles, "If It Weren't For Pick Pockets (I would have no sex life)" and "I Fought the Broad (and the Broad won)" and "Make Like a Door and Shut Up."
There are 17 cuts on this record and two thirds are good or better. Cuts like "It Only Took a Whisper" have an urgency that is shared equally by the vocals and instruments. Songs like "Song of Hope" contain little parts like the shouted refrain "we'll sleep just fine," which adds to it nicely. This Was Built To Make You Dance sizzles with all the immediacy of a sugar-rush. The afore-mentioned "If It Weren't For Pick Pockets…" has some cutting lyrics that produce a laugh.
Secret Lives Of The Freemasons is vocalist Brien Worshsam, guitarist Jim Debardi, guitarist Justin Elrod, guitarist Tucker Ensley, bassist Josh Carden and drummer Travis Moss. This band is clearly on the fast track. Their record is great and if they have any kind of live show, we'll still be hearing from them even after this quickly fading genre is gone. |
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