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"Rainer Maria is past their prime." "Rainer Maria isn't hip anymore." "Rainer Maria hasn't written any good songs since 'Look Now Look Again'." "Rainer Maria should just break up."

To people who say phrases like or similar to those, the new EP from Rainer Maria is a big middle finger to every last one of you.

The three songs contained on this EP are like a band lashing out at their stereotype - the friendly, romantic boy/girl emo sound. To those who have followed the band, we know that guitarist Kyle and bassist/singer Caithlin dated for quite some time, breaking up before the recording of the band's last album, the disappointing "A Better Version Of Me." The band seemed stuck in a rut - did they keep writing the same love songs they had been writing, when there was no love in the band anymore? Their sound suffered, as the lyrics turned slightly darker, but the music stayed as peppy as ever.

For this EP, the band has definitely gotten their shit straightened out. Opening track "Ears Ring," with it's pounding guitar/bass interplay and the screaming chorus of "You already love her" coupled with a sick breakdown rocks you like a hurricane, letting you know that this band has got something to say.

"Alchemy" is at the same breakneck speed [for this band, anyway] but sounds even more frantic and sinister, with the repeating vocals of "They made you from silver / but you were worth gold." I've never heard the band this angry before, but I definitely like it.

So after 2 skull-pounding, heart-stabbing tracks in a row, what does the band finish up the EP with? If you guessed "a throwback to their old, poppier" style, you'd be right on the money. "Automatic" sounds like vintage Rainer Maria, making me believe that the band has gotten their game face on for their new album coming out next year. The traded off female/male ooo's and ah's, plus Kyle's interjections of "YougotitYougotitYougotitYougotit!" really seal the deal on this melodic gem.

So the question is, since "Ears Ring" will be on the upcoming LP, is this worth buying for the other two tracks? I can only give a resounding yes to that question. Doubters beware - Rainer Maria is back, and is back with a vengance. This might be the best EP that I've gotten this year.

MP3
Ears Ring

REAL AUDIO
Ears Ring



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    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 21, 2003 at 8:31 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    *note: there should be a negative representation in the 'albums score' box.

    I think that person was right saying that this shit has to go. Call it emo if u want....that post.

    That person is right. Most music is emotional. But the emo category is so fucking irritating.
    Its true they all sing about getting hurt, mostly love. And its gets old REAL quick.
    Most of the music...without the lyrics reminds me of the more obscure bands in the '80s that never quite made it to radio air play.

    "they made you silver, but you were worth gold" is an idication that they were angry??? Jesus thats weak.
    All the emo stuff I correlate with a 'modern hippy'. And I can't fucking stand hippies.....why?
    Cause they are so unrealistic. Love, love love..nothing else, don't need anything else but love. It just doesn't work in the real world.
    I like my music to reflect somewhat of the world I live in.

    Singing about lost love...good one, maybe 2 tracks on an album...the whole fucking thing? OVERKILL
    It actually passes the point of calling it whining. Thats all it is,
    You got dumped, boo hoo.
    You got a paper cut...boo hoo.
    It rained today ......boo fucking hoo.

    Quit it already.
    You get dumped, deal with it.
    You cut your little finger....deal with it.
    It rains...deal with it.
    They really need to stop singing about the same person that dumped them when they were 13 years old. Get OVER IT!!!!

    Musically.....its all been done before. Adding horrible fucking stupid, want to wallow in my own sorrows forever until the world turns even more grey and more cold than it already is, piercing my heart with pain every living second, oh pity me, lyrics, makes it the most annoying genre of music.

    This is how bad emo is:
    I would rather put myself through the torment of listening to Right Said Fred than have to listen to any more emo.

    Isn't that saying a lot?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 21, 2003 at 8:13 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    buh,
    sounds a lot like Die Cheerleader

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 20, 2002 at 5:29 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Look at all these "tough punk guy" comments. I'm glad I have nothing to do with "punk" anymore.Thanks to you scott for reviewing things other than the same old punk. I used to come here for my "punk" news, now I can come here for my "indie rock" news.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 24, 2002 at 2:05 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    these songs sound really fucking good live even though they're not much on cd

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 21, 2002 at 11:50 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I think the girl on the cover is hot! I'd let her eat my ass out after eating mexican food all day & then running a marathon. Sweat & shit, two great tastes that taste great together.

    Posted by waste_elite on 2002-11-21 00:54:13
    My Score:

    crappy looking high school art class drawing for the cover. her eyes are looking in two seperate directions. as for the band, don't know anything about em.

    Posted by travis on 2002-11-21 00:26:51
    My Score:

    i think scott did a good job

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 at 7:07 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    easily the worst album cover i've ever seen

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 at 6:11 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i think he is the "king of pop"

    Posted by Tahoejeff on 2002-11-20 17:43:15
    My Score:

    Well it is pretty odd that Springsteen goes by the name "Boss". Boss of what? I dont believe he is the boss of rock music. Perhaps he is a manager of an East Coast fast food restaraunt..I dont know. But yes Springsteen and "Boss"... the 2 dont go well together- that is a juxtaposition. although, If I'm wrong, and I might be, and Bruce Springsteen is "the Boss"...I'm asking for a raise. I shouldnt have to put up with that at work.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 at 5:14 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    ohh whoa big words...you must be intelligent

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 at 12:19 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    We all know how gut-wrenching inaccurately Scott reviewed this record. So let's talk amongst ourselves...

    Subject: Discuss the juxtaposition of Springsteen's pseudonym "Boss," and how his music seems to denounce that particular occupation.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 7:51 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    you are the wittiest person alive!

    fucking congratulations!

    Posted by Tahoejeff on 2002-11-19 18:51:47
    My Score:

    The name of this song should be changed to "ears bleed"..This song sucks

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 6:02 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    wow, this is really bad. the guitar sound is horrible.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 4:10 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    NOFX is shit.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 2:22 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I like plenty of music besides punk, hardcore, etc. I'm just tired of all these bands being so upset about the stupidest shit lately. Whah.

    -sickboi

    Posted by travis on 2002-11-19 14:04:07
    My Score:

    hey scott, i agree with your review. ive heard lots of whining about everything post their best album. Personally, I like everything they have done. Rainer maria is fantastic. And this EP is too.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 1:46 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this song sucks and this band sucks. secondly, they have a chick singer, which makes them suck even more. fuck this shit, it made feel like less of a man listening to this trash.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 1:18 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    only good music is punk rock, scott, you idiot.....what were you thinkin, tryin to review something different...how dare you like rainer maria and owen, they're not punk, therefore, they are not good

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 12:54 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I've never heard any Rainer Maria fans complain about their last record so much before you. You are basing this review in some kind of a fictional fantasyland.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 12:39 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This shit sucks more ass than courtney love that time she ran out of money for crack.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 12:02 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Yeah, I gotta agree. This lame-ass, crybaby crap has to go. Whatever happened to songs about drinking, fighting and fucking?

    As weird as it sounds, its bands like this and all these other babies that make me thankful for bands like NOFX, who have the potty-humor down.

    -sickboi

    Posted by BostonMusicGuy on 2002-11-19 10:11:41
    My Score:

    Not gonna lie to you... cant stand this band. Im really getting sick of emotional rock... whether you want to call it emo or not thats up to you. I just wish they had more emotions than love, or heartbreak.-BostonMusicGuy

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 8:50 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    this band fucking blows, if this is rainer maria back in their prime, than i hate to see when you thought they sucked, terrible shit right here

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 6:28 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Your taste in music sucks,this is horrible-oldpunker-

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