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Anadivine

Anadivine (2003)
Sidecho Records

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on December 5th 2003

Congratulations, you're mediocre!

In their obvious attempt at trying to craft these huge, orchestrated melodies, Anadivine fall short in their bold attempts on their self-titled EP. Although there is half-decent guitar work going on occasionally, a pretty good lyrics base, and the push towards a fairly original sound, the band can't seem to tap that potential you can hear in their focus.

Bearing a similarity to Armor for Sleep both in vocals and the overall feel of the moods and tempos, it makes for some interesting moments, but they fail to hold your attention for the entire spin of the disc. Although Claudio from Coheed & Cambria (hometown locals for Anadivine) guests some vocals on "Cross Your Heart," there was also a definite Coheed vibe I was feeling before I heard his all-too-familiar voice in the song. The combination strives towards this certain boldness that they can't seem to capture.

The Coheed vibe isn't just present in the music, but the skewed conceptualization the band tries to create by connecting certain tracks of the EP together. They do admit it with their use of the ellipses to end and/or begin track names. Strung together, the sentence formed by the names of tracks one, four, and eight say "In regard to the radio capture and the refusal to negotiate with the frequency hostage." There are some ideas that are obviously trying to be conveyed here, you think?

"Alcohol and Oxygen" tries the indecipherable screaming bit for its bridge and breakdown, but it isn't so much distasteful as it a bit awkward. There's something missing that just doesn't fully connect it to the song, leaving it slightly out-of-place. In the aforementioned "Cross Your Heart," the song immediately begins with a great hook in which the vocalist describes, "Emily's trapped under blankets, tucked in by paramedics," but it ceases to be replicated anywhere else in the tune.

As for the lyrics base, it's nice to see the band choose mostly the ideas of personal belonging and the mentally social aspects of domestic life over the normal whining and moaning about relationships. Several symbols of suicide are strewn about the art, over a strange montage of fire and blood-like colors, representing the subject matter well.

The way these lyrics are presented is the matter of the problem. There is a Hoover Dam of untapped potential this band has, and with the right ideas, the right changes, and the right attitudes, this wall can be broken down. Hopefully next summer when their debut full-length is released on the Militia Group, we should be able to say "Mazel Tov!" and mean it.

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Anonymous (December 10, 2003)

well, at least you're honest, so it's ok with me. but you know maddox...you're a dead man ;).

inagreendase (December 9, 2003)

You say it like this isn't the first time I've ripped him off. Yes, he'll kill me though. I only ripped him off indirectly though; I had that line in my mind and knew I was ripping it off from somewhere, but I couldn't place it, and just used it in the hopes that it was obscure enough not for anyone to recognize it.

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

hey reviewer, stop stealing from MADDOX! i know you got the opening line from him! he'll kill you!

GreenVandal (December 9, 2003)

jeebus. shut the fuck up.

haha, i still dont know what this band sounds like, its just fun to argue.

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

oh i was at that Oswego show ill tell you about it...the first band played...one kid had a halfstack the other had a little practice amp they didnt know what the hell they were doing....then their were some more kid type bands played (mostly kids in the high school age group) who sounded like a mesh of midtown and taking back sunday...i guess that's the best way to put it not to say anything about those bands is original....anadivine was the first and last band on that show that night that even sounded close to being a professional band who seemed to know what they were doing with the instruments in their hands. theyre not the fucking Beatles but they didn't deserve any of those comments or this review in my opinion. but its also my opinion that you all are cock suckers too but hey i could be wrong.

Anonymous (December 9, 2003)

hey boba come suck on my boba

dignin (December 9, 2003)

"Janelle Donkey Punch = goodness"
that was origianally was MY idea, but whatever. Twat, quess what? Noone cares.

Anonymous (December 8, 2003)

hey janelle, you better start saving your used tampons, i'm outta jam and it doesn't look like you're enough of a woman to go to the store and get some for me
twat

Anonymous (December 8, 2003)

all of you defending janelle just want to get some stinky finger.

Anonymous (December 8, 2003)

Dude, who took a shit on my head? It is like everywhere. Who shits on people these days, seriously?

boba_fett (December 8, 2003)

"man there are some dumb motherfuckers who come to this website."

yeah. youre one of them.

Anonymous (December 8, 2003)

man there are some dumb motherfuckers who come to this website.

Anonymous (December 8, 2003)

my lawn ornament stealing skills should come in handy...
-Janelle

boba_fett (December 8, 2003)

ooh! ooh! i want to wear his scalp as a cape!

our first department store target shall be sears.

Greenvandal (December 7, 2003)

Yes men! (and woman!) Light random fires and loot department stores with me! We will have that twats skin turned into a suit that superdude can wear.

boba_fett (December 7, 2003)

Riot with greenvandal!

Anonymous (December 7, 2003)

superdude finally makes me laugh. And if nothing else, the cover art looks nice from here...

--Cos

funkisdead (December 7, 2003)

yeah, this has gotten pretty fucked up.

i think you guys should just shut the fuck up.. you are not accomplishing anything. you're not being particularly witty.

go janelle!

Greenvandal (December 7, 2003)

Wow janelle...they are being pretty mean to you in hear.

Shal we riot?

Anonymous (December 6, 2003)

I'll give her a care bear stare.

Anonymous (December 6, 2003)

Janelle Donkey Punch = goodness

Anonymous (December 6, 2003)

Damn it janelle we just wouldn't work. I'm sorry for giving you girl wood, but it wont work.
twat

Anonymous (December 6, 2003)

i was trying to put it nicely, trying to be diplomatic...
-J

boba_fett (December 6, 2003)

twat is what we call a fucking retard.

Anonymous (December 6, 2003)

exposing the harsh truth!
-Janelle
twat is what we call, conflicted.

Anonymous (December 6, 2003)

Yes I do in fact need more. I need you to go fuck yourself. "Hey look at me! I'm funny! My name is Superdude! Haha." Mommy and daddy arguing? When they yell do you hide in a corner with your hands against your ears? Are you acting out cuz they're not showing you enough attention? Or is it that because of your immense size you were forced to develop a sense of humor so the other kids would laugh with you not at you? Well, they're laughing at you fatty.
twat

superdude (December 6, 2003)

This review was good, but here's how I would make it better:

1. Review Kiss Alive III

2. What? You need more?

Anonymous (December 6, 2003)

See, that's an example of the sorry state of affairs nowadays. Not much has changed.

boba_fett (December 6, 2003)

"Not you janelle. Dinner ready yet? Easy on the pepper this time. Is that the kids I hear crying?
twat"

twat couldnt be a better name for you.

exhaustra (December 6, 2003)

well written review.

Anonymous (December 6, 2003)

"Is that the kids I hear crying?"

maybe.
-Janelle