Press Play – Album Reviews

LoomAngler***The first thing I noticed about Loom’s album is that is has a hardcore skipping problem. It’s too bad, too. From what I can make of Angler, I really like it. The band’s driving rhythms and purposely janky guitar (almost sounds out of tune, but still works for the sound) make the band sound like thrash-y lovechild of At the Drive-In and These Arms Are Snakes, minus the keyboards, but plus a violin. The shout-along vocals are catchy and slightly reminiscent of an angrier Anniversary, and the songs will probably have you nodding your head a little. Worth a listen, for the whole 18 or so minutes the EP lasts … if the CD didn’t skip.

-Steve Haske

Pacific UVLongplay 2****Pacific UV are not afraid of taking their sweet time with anything, something clearly evident after listening to Longplay 2, an album with no shortage of calm, atmospheric buildups showcasing a subtly dramatic shoegaze music. Not that any of this is bad. Longplay 2 is actually pretty solid. The lack of lyrics in most of the songs (which, by the way, average around six and half minutes each) is surprisingly refreshing–most of the vocal work is good, but it is occasionally a distraction from the soundscapes the band has created. Overall, the album is pretty relaxing, and it’s obvious that the band is skilled at wielding their instruments like giant indie pacifiers. They don’t quite reach the status of, say, Sigur Ros, but Pacific UV is still a solid listen.

-Steve Haske

Upcoming shows:

So Unexpect is weird. Like, really weird. Or maybe they just want me to think so. The bondage pants and face-tattoos have the ring of high school theater dorks who are trying too hard. Regardless, the music on their 2006 album, In a Flesh Aquarium, is strange. It’s like a mix of nu-alt-metallers Evanescence and weirdo-in-residence Mike Patton. Violin breakdowns? Check. Ambient horror-film-esque industrial segues? Check. Thrash-metal? Check. Death-growl vocals combined with operatic female vocals? Check and check. The list goes on and on.

The fact is, Unexpect have about a million ideas when it comes to music, and they aren’t afraid to cram every last bit of nonsense into their songs. For their next album the band should concentrate less on living up their name and more on writing cohesive material. Right now they’re just hanging on to a gimmick (the band might make an interesting live show, though).

Unexpect will play Jan. 31 at the Roseland Grill.

-Ed Johnson