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Garrison

The Model (2003)
Iodine Recordings

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Contributed by: Scott
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on January 14th 2003

Garrison sound like a lot of other bands. That's not necessarily a bad thing; most bands sound like someone else, it's almost impossible to help. It's up to the band to pick good bands to mimic, and Garrison go with some good ones.

The group's biggest influence that I can draw from this 5 song EP is that of amazingly influential band Quicksand. In tracks like "The Only One," where the guitars pound on you then abruptly let up, letting you catch you a small breath before they jump back into their drop D pummelling. Singer Joseph Grillo does an excellent Walter Schreifels impersonation in this song and the following, "Patient Mouth." This track slips into a midtempo 6/8 groove, again with guitars whipping you until you cave in at their feet. It's loud, powerful, and it rocks.

The group lets their poppier side show on the EP's last track, "The Sound." It's a jangly rocker reminiscent of bands like the Liars Academy with catchy "ooo"s in the background, and a damn fine hook suitable for any college radio station worth it's salt. It's only problem is it's length - the song cracks 5 minutes. Some bands can pull off the 5 minute rocker [Hum's "The Stars" being a perfect example], but this song falls flat after the chorus is repeated roughly a million times.

Regardless, the EP sounds damn good, if not derivative. The disc was recored by Andrew Schneider, the man responsible for Cave In's newest EP, so you know everything's going to sound right on this record. Almost a little too right for my liking, frankly. I get the feeling that he stood over these guys as they plucked every string, making sure everything was perfect. When I listen to these songs, I want to imagine myself hearing them in a dark club watching the band sweat their emotions out onstage. The EP leaves that image a bit flat, but that only makes me want to hear them more to prove my ears wrong. As for now, these guys have a solid EP on their hands, but it's not as brilliant as some people might say it is.

MP3
Let's Fight

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Anonymous (January 20, 2003)

fucking brilliant record!
saw them in the UK in nov. with kids near water, one of the best shows i've ever seen.

OWN THIS RECORD! IT IS SERIOUSLY BEAUTIFUL.

waste_elite (January 18, 2003)

first of all, you don't even know what kind of music i listen to, so i'm not quite sure why you are making fun of my taste in music. second, whoever said i liked fucking garrison? i've never even heard anything by the band.

weird...

so are you actually placing the descendents and mxpx in the same league? see, what the descendents were doing back in the 80's wasn't "tired", it was innovative and it was good.

as for mxpx, i honestly don't care how long they've been around, a band that plays generic so-cal skatepunk and writes songs about jesus is anything but spectacular.

milo (January 18, 2003)

I even wonder if the Descendents fall into your tired brand of pop-punk. i guess they might be sucky too.... nothing compared to Garrison anyway......

milo (January 18, 2003)

no you see, MxPx is actually a GOOD pop-punk band who've been around and made a name for themselves(10yrs??). these bands you've been "keeping an ear out" for bite the big one. sorry, dick.

i'd rather go to an Mxpx show than a Garrison show. sorry.

Anonymous (January 18, 2003)

riiiiight and anyway...THIS record is phenominal!

waste_elite (January 17, 2003)

yeah, mxpx is pretty sucky too. there's more out there besides this tired brand of pop-punk, buddy. keep an ear out.

milo (January 17, 2003)

If the Ataris are "garbage", then i'd like to know what you think isn't garbage.

p.s. you should write MXPX saying they need a "sound thrashing" for the song 'Punk Rawk Show' ...or are they garbage too?

waste_elite (January 16, 2003)

the ataris suckiness makes me forget how ugly they are. seriously, the stuff is garbage.

and anyone that says "rawk" needs a sound thrashing.

Anonymous (January 16, 2003)

to the person who said the Ataris are the "ugliest band ever". since when are you looking at their faces when you pop in the CD to LISTEN? they fucking rawk and you suck.

rochelle (January 16, 2003)

i think the reference to quicksand was totally off.