reviews
FILE UNDER: Split-personality power-pop
Let Go/The Story Changes - AnalogiesScott Heisel on 8/20/09 @ 7:00 AM
The trajectory of Jamie Woolford's music career hasn't exactly been unexpected, but it has taken some turns that weren't obvious back when he was playing ska-punk songs in a band named after a skateboarding film. Let Go are his most recent project, unhindered by the collaborative spirit that his most well-known band, the Stereo, were founded upon; while the melodies are familiar, the scenery is different. Instead of being hailed as the great revivalist of heavy guitar power pop, Woolford's latest release is packaged as a split with the Story Changes--a band who seem to have taken much of their riffage from the Stereo's previous releases, but paired them with whiney vocals, predictable chord progressions and lyrics that might have been nouveau before the Great Emo Gold Rush of 2001 (one song seems to be thematically married to Aerosmith's "Janie's Got A Gun").
With the songs alternating between the two bands and with Woolford producing for the whole split, the goal of Analogies was to have a cohesive release between two groups. Instead, what's left is a handful of tracks from two entirely different spectrums, most of which don't feel very cohesive within themselves. But there are bright spots. Unchecked, Woolford has made headway into more experimental song structures. While "The Great Mistake" is a bit iffy in its upstroke guitar, the piano-heavy "Two Feet On The Faultline" features all the pomp of Queen's greatest. To cap it off, Woolford recorded an overly faithful rendition of Tom Petty's "You Got Lucky," '80s synth and all. Although it's a great song and a good cover, it didn't need to be re-recorded exactly as it was, describing the entire tone for the album: interesting, but unnecessary. (FUTURE DESTINATION) Jesse Raub
GO DOWNLOAD: Let Go's "Two Feet On The Faultline"
Official Website: http://www.fdrecords.com
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I picked this up last week and it hasn't left my car player. I don't agree with this review at all. The Great Mistake is one of the best songs Woolford has ever written. He hit it out of the park. Great song! The Story Changes tracks are a breath of fresh air from everything going on in the "scene" today. Move Forward is a great song. "interesting, but unnecessary" - What would you consider more necessary?? More Forever the Sickest Kids, more Attack Attack!?
Yeah that review is bullshit, this is the best pop punk/rock album since Motion City's I Am The Movie and cheers to both of the bands for doing a split and pulling this album off. Hands down the catchiest record of 2009.