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The Reason

Problems Associated With Running (2003)
Lonely Tree

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

Published on August 12th 2003

There are a lot of these bands. I’m telling the truth when I tell you that as I was writing this review someone sent us news about a new “melodic hardcore band with a sound similar to Thursday, A Static Lullaby, etc.” I’m sure that by the end of the evening we’ll have yet another submission in our inbox with the same description, instead this time namedropping The Used or Taking Back Sunday. As I’m typically impatient and often outright hostile towards records in this vein it surprises me that I don’t have many bad things to say about “Problems Associated With Running.”

The Reason’s past as light hearted Ramones styled pop punk Sewing With Nancie is likely what saves them from the doldrums of becoming another boring “sounds like Thursday” act. As with other bands in this style that I like, they provide just enough speed and muscle to keep the band’s energy from sagging. Songs like “Tortoise” and “150” definitely show promise and decent songwriting. Instrumentally there are plenty of interesting moments and concepts throughout the EP.

The problem with The Reason’s debut is it may have come too late to make much of an impact. I’m convinced I could make you a mix tape of all the melodic hardcore / emo songs we’re told about in a given month and you wouldn’t be able to tell the bands apart. While The Reason is better than a lot of generic stuff I hear, they still sound like a band trying to find it’s niche. For a debut EP, that’s not too bad a position to be in.

The Reason should be well embraced by the Ontario scenes that propped up bands like Grade, Moneen or Alexisonfire. Like so many young groups that are playing this style, they’ve got an uphill battle to distinguish themselves from their ever-multiplying contemporaries.

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Trauma16 (November 13, 2005)

These guys put on an incredible show and their song writing definitly sets them apart from the over saturated genre.

Anonymous (May 22, 2004)

These guys are amazing!!! see them live!!! but their new album in august!!! for the love of punk music!!!

Anonymous (August 18, 2003)

Straight up bubble gum pop punk going to the screaming emo trend ... what a sad sad world.

Anonymous (August 16, 2003)

This band reminds me of the Travoltas(sp?), both really cool and fun bands to listen to.

-c22

maverick (August 12, 2003)

This sounds like a screamier version of Hot Rod Circuit.

-Scott

Anonymous (August 12, 2003)

This EP is good, but as others have said you must see them live, its where you get a real semse of just how much power they have.

Tim-PunkInternational (August 12, 2003)

I like this EP a lot. I'd take The Reason over The Used, A Static Lullaby, and most of the other related bands.

Anonymous (August 12, 2003)

this band knows how to rock. when i first seen them as sewing with nancie... i was like oh, not another skate band, but they realy surprised me with there wicked stage performance and how they were cool with partying after.. then a few months later they came back as the reason and fucking went off. they arent still looking for their style or whatever...they have found thier style. which makes them happy....... dont be judging a bands growth from just one album. check them out live a couple of times, over a period of time, then youll have a valid say. ,,l,,

hungryjoe (August 12, 2003)

If you're such a great Legion, shouldn't you be getting together, playing pool, and sponsoring peewee Baseball teams?

FortyMinutesWest (August 12, 2003)

This band is The Reason? I always thought that Texas was The Reason... Yeah, I'll shut up now.

Anonymous (August 12, 2003)

Haha pretty cool band... ya and the new rise against cd rocks like fuck

shindo (August 12, 2003)

Ehh... there was another Adam White in Niagara Falls too. We are legion.

maverick (August 12, 2003)

This band - from Ontario.
Adam from Punknews.org - from Ontario.
Singer of this band's name - Adam White.
Adam from Punknews.org's name - Adam White.

And they're not even the same person.

Am I the only person who is weirded out by this?

-Scott