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After releasing an EP "Scenic Overlook" in 2001 on Not Bad Records, this is the full-length debut of this Denver, CO band for Negative Progression.

Starting off the album with a scratchy 7" alike piano intro, the first song immediately indicates what this band is about: Hard bursts in both vocals and guitars, alternating with laidback melodic punkrock tunes or even some emotive parts. Kinda like the formula bands like Thursday and Thrice are known for I guess. In fact there's also that same tactic of 2 vocalists; one guy screaming and screeching his heart out anxiously (sometimes, like in "Hapworth", it even seems like the recordings continued while he was taking a pee on some toilet and sang from there), while the other guy is trying to get the melodies right. Although I have to say that I didn't think the melodic guy was sounding very steady in some songs ("A Call To Arms") where I was glad to hear the sreaming guy again.

The over-all sound of the album is not as sophisticated as Thrice's and is a bit more inviting to jump up and down on at times, but it has that same succession of intense heavier parts with held-back tension-building momentums. The more basic punkrock approach is documented with a cover of Pinhead Gunpowder's song "Keeping Warm In The Nighttime" (from their 1994 album Jump Salty). A song like "Hapworth" could have been on a Jawbreaker album, while "The Sum Of All Parts" is showing Good Riddance resemblance in the first part of the song. Closing song and title track "Awaywithwords" is geared up with some string-arrangement that add a strange mood to the song. It's really a collection of styles that are blended together to result in a pretty powerful, sometimes endearing but most of all an intense sound topped with thoughtful poetic lyrics. Pick this one up if you like it hard yet melodic and catchy.

Highlights for me were songs "At A Glance", "Awaywithwords" and especially "Now I Have the Conch".



People who liked this also liked:
The Real Danger - The Real DangerSide Walk Slam - Give BackGatsbys American Dream - Why We Fight504plan - Treehouse TalkScarrots - Peace Of Sun ShineSlowride - As I Survive The Suicide BomberBrandtson - Dial In SoundsPark - No SignalJune Spirit - Treat Me Like Someone ElseSquare One - The Long Drive Home



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    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 27, 2005 at 3:03 AM (EDT)

    THis band is better than thrice. It's good to hear a band you know won't get shitty as they progress. Also check Out , The Facet, Pariah Caste, Mustangs & Madras and First Bite

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 8:06 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Thrice only has one singer who does both. As do most of the bands you THINK have two singers. Its just one singer pulling double duty, sometimes live another member of the band will take a screaming part.

    Posted by hein on 2002-07-31 18:39:47
    My Score:

    Hmm, I never said this band sounded a lot like Thrice, just saying they use the same formula of 2 singers: one screaming, the other singing. In fact, I said that this was not as sophisticated. And yes, ... Thrice is much better.

    Posted by evildeadalive on 2002-07-28 03:07:54
    My Score:

    not really sure where the ' came from in songs...

    Posted by evildeadalive on 2002-07-28 03:06:57
    My Score:

    I think cover song's on full lengths are alright as secret songs.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 28, 2002 at 2:15 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I dont see how they could be compared to thrice. Bands like contender and that type of posthardcore music have been around way before thrice ever put their quasi-metal riffs on it.

    wyzo

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 5:21 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Damn, can't anyone do a review without comparing them to Thrice... First off, Contender does not sound like Thrice... Second off, this review of the cd is terrible... what's with the whole "sounds like he's singing while taking pee" That's quite possibly the stupidest thing I've ever read in a review... Nonetheless, this is an excellent cd, the lyrics are incredibly well written and deep. Musically it is diverse enough throughout the whole album to not get boring... Check it out if you have the chance and don't read this review...

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 2:54 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Contender is a great band but your review suck! Thrice is better.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 9:18 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    what the fuck does the matter?

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 5:13 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Wait, did they seriously put a cover song on this album? And its a full length? No no, not a good thing, NEVER a good thing.

    Posted by maverick on 2002-07-26 22:20:18
    My Score:

    It's a poor man's Thrice, but it's not bad.

    -Scott

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