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Life In Exile
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Life In Exile
Deadwood Records
Release: 1/18/2005
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Rated:
Review by:
Morley Seaver
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Life In Exile is a relatively new band from Los Angeles. It is
made up of Joshua Pascowitz (vocals) and Brian Scott
(guitars/programming). Pascowitz used to be with The Flys,
which received radio play, and partner Scott was in a local LA
band called Triggerpimp.
Their debut record brings together a nice combination of
crunchy guitar and an electronic backdrop that has all the Mike
Tyson punch of solo Rob Zombie. "Lonely Heaven" starts off
for a line or two with some Star Wars synth
noodling before cranking into the powerful backbeat. "I Am
What I Am" is in the same vein. "Hunger" trades in the huge
beat for a subtler, snarly one. Really nice vocals on this one.
A nod to literary inspiration follows with "Ayn Rand" - good, but
it sounds like the first two cuts.
The ballad of the set, "Lift Off" follows next and it is the
highlight of the record. Shimmering vocals soar over some
organic guitars and a sparse electronic beat until three quarters
of the way through where they beef it up a bit.
"It's alright" accurately describes the song - good, but again
reminiscent of the first couple of cuts. "Mirror in the Bathroom"
has a great chorus with a punchy beat. The lyrics are cutting:
"I take you to a restaurant with glass table so you can watch
yourself while you're eating."
Pascowitz has a voice that fits well with the 80s bands like The
Fixx, but their sound is definitely of this decade. They've got
some good songs, great hooks and excellent vocals. Yet when
the record is over, it's like they say about Chinese food, an
hour later you're hungry again… but not really for more of
them. Good but soulless. I can hear this being played in a
club really loudly, but they'll have to change it up a bit to have
people looking for them in the future. |
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