Rainer Maria

Rainer Maria: Anyone In Love With You (Already Knows)Anyone In Love With You (Already Knows) (2004)
Polyvinyl Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

Contributed by: maverickScott
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on March 9th 2004Anyone In Love With You (Already Knows) is the newest offering from Rainer Maria. It's rare to see a band casually labelled as "emo" be as consistently influential, genre-defining, and just plain good as they have over the past 8 years, although they are not without their errors [a majority of A Be.

Anyone In Love With You (Already Knows) is the newest offering from Rainer Maria. It's rare to see a band casually labelled as "emo" be as consistently influential, genre-defining, and just plain good as they have over the past 8 years, although they are not without their errors [a majority of A Better Version Of Me, for example]. The band made it through the new millennium relatively unscathed, unlike many of their past contemporaries, and this live DVD/CD release helps close the book on the first chapter of their lives, show that they are still musically relevant, and hopefully putting the rumors of an impending breakup to bed.

The DVD, shot by the people at BandPhotography.com, is well-edited. There's a variety of angles and types of film used, allowing for many interesting looks throughout the performance. The DVD is also interspersed with cute little still graphics in between some songs, which is a nice change from what is usually there on the DVD - a black screen with ambient crowd noise. Kinda weird. Rainer Maria's set is typical of what they've been playing for the past year or so, so if you caught them headlining with Denali or Mates Of State and really enjoyed it, this is right up your alley. Classic "Tinfoil" and an interesting fusing of "The Reason The Night Is Long" and "Situation: Relation" closes the DVD as their encore, and it's a good ending to a very solid performance. The DVD also includes the band's video for "Ears Ring" as well as a photo gallery, both of which are nice additions.

Anyone In Love With You (Already Knows) also comes with a companion 11-track live CD, with recordings taken from a half-dozen locales over the past few years. The recordings, while not Live At Budokan, are crisp and clear, and a step up from your typical indie live recording sound. 5 of the 11 tracks come from A Better Version Of Me, unarguably the band's worst album. This leaves only 6 tracks to be divvied up among their other 3 LPs and the Atlantic EP - there are definitely no surprises here. This is my only real gripe - I would have loved to see some more older/rarer material get documented on a release like this, but that's just the music geek in me showing.

This DVD/CD combo is a worthy addition to any fan's collection, as well as a surprisingly good introduction to any newcomer. All the "hits" are here, and the "misses" are kept to a minimum. Rainer Maria is really captured perfectly here - from Caithlin's powerful-yet-sweet voice to Kyle's spastic dancing and wondrously off-key harmonies to Bill's jazz-influenced and intricate drumming. A worthwhile purchase.

View the DVD trailer here

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (March 22, 2006)

despite writing some of the sweetest emo songs going i doubt they've considered themselves diy for a while. they're great songwriters, good luck to them if they're moving on.

oh and you saw them at a coheed and cambria? you have no right to complain about anything.

Anonymous (October 2, 2004)

I usually don't have proble with emo and happen to like alot of emo bands.... but oh my god do this band suck. I saw them live with Coheed and Cambria and they were definantly the worst band I've ever seen.
*buttbager*

Anonymous (March 13, 2004)

fuck corporate alternative shit

Anonymous (March 11, 2004)

even though the two male members of this band are flaming homos, they still own. gay power!

ElVaquero (March 11, 2004)

yep that lowly 8.8 sure smacks of hate to me too.

greg6711 (March 10, 2004)

what is pitchfork's beef with this band.

Anonymous (March 10, 2004)

first of all, this dvd set sounds amazing. rainer maria is a very good group. female-fronted emo is a rarity, and especially good female-fronted emo. but i must take exception to your labeling of "a better version of me" as their worst album. personally, i would list it as my favorite. much better than "long knives drawn." just my opnion.

Anonymous (March 10, 2004)

I can't really place which record I like the best/worst. I really just love them all. There are songs I like more than others, but it seems as though every Rainer Maria record I own has enough songs on their I like, and none i acutally hate.

and i love their live shows.

Anonymous (March 10, 2004)

oh oh owned.

maverick (March 9, 2004)

To the anonymous person who criticized my review below:

A Better Version Of Me is their worst album. No question. If you disagree, please tell me what you think is their worst, and why.

As for talking about this chapter of their lives - I know they're in their thirties and have been around for close to a decade. This album closes that chapter. Now a new one begins. What was so hard about that?

Do I listen to jazz? Son [or daughter, whatever you might be], I listen to and play jazz drumset constantly and have for a decade. If you can't hear the jazz influences in his drumming, then you're not listening.

-Scott

Anonymous (March 9, 2004)

i find it strange that Bjork doen't have any of Scott's cds.

Anonymous (March 9, 2004)

Scott i find it strange that you have no bjork cd's in your cd collection

Anonymous (March 9, 2004)

"although they are not without their errors [a majority of A Better Version Of Me, for example]. "

-what? that was probably their best album - if not the most consistent.

"first chapter of their lives"

-the fuck does that mean? the band's been around for about a decade, and are in their 30s!

"jazz-influenced and intricate drumming"

-jazz? what band are you listening to? do you even listen to jazz? this is what reviewers say whenever they hear drummers that don't play punk rock.

the reviews here used to be good...

Anonymous (March 9, 2004)

i seriously doubt that this band played fucking budokan.

-el vaquero

Anonymous (March 9, 2004)

in other news, the new FROM FIRST TO LAST record is so amazing. It will turn a lot of heads. Beware.

Anonymous (March 9, 2004)

OH

WHAT

CRAP!

Anonymous (March 9, 2004)

this dvd is going to be rad. I caught both tours with Denali and MOS and I was very impressed. I am going to go get this today.

Anonymous (March 9, 2004)

Ohhhhhhhh, Adam's review gets dropped down one by Rainer Maria.

We kept the bandaides in the linen closet pal.

-sickboi