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Burnthe8track

The Ocean (2004)
Abacus Recordings

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

Published on July 13th 2004

Burnthe8track has definitely accomplished one of the better definitions of “white noise” I’ve come across lately. Their debut full-length The Ocean is far from horrible, but it still leaves me scratching my head trying to figure out exactly what they’re going for.

You’d think that with the definite Midwestern-esque emo sound of great influences like Braid and Hum shining through in the music (just more aggressive) and vocals that occasionally bear a resemblance to the soft backups of The Ghost, the band could easily pull off something not only original but also highly creative and intriguing; unfortunately, it’s just not the case. There’s little things adding up that just bore the listener, like a certain cohesiveness they can’t seem to grasp, or a certain artificialness in the energy. Their sober arrangements just seem “misplaced” in a sense.

With an intricate, peculiar choice of guitar licks and high-pitched wails jumping out at random, their attempt on capitalizing on the subtle melody in college rock just seems oddly awkward. It just isn’t completely together in a really frustrating way.

This record leaves nothing more than a taste of indifference in my mouth, and that’s all there is to it.

MP3
Two Worlds Apart

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BSD (July 19, 2004)

I never said they were a real emo band, I meant that they were one of the most influential on the more poppy/indie-rock aspect of modern emo. If you lived in the midwest (which you might) and still went to shows, you can hear their influence on the new wave of crappy local acts. But I'm missing Judge Judy for this.

Later, losers.

Anonymous (July 19, 2004)

Husker Du were very influential( and very very excellent ie. new day rising, zen arcade, metal circus), I don't have the time and patience to write a book here though. I overlooked pop punk cause I am generalizing here.

Anonymous (July 19, 2004)

Well, if you weren't name dropping than you're just good, ol'fashioned wrong about where emo came from. There's nothing wrong with that, just don't act like a jackass when someone points it out.

BSD (July 19, 2004)

I am "the Kids", I'm probably younger than you. I never said they were obscure or good for namedropping. I just thought they kind of invented the whole "punk rock geeky is cool" thing that's so popular these days, and what makes up the fashion cult known as EMO.

Honestly, if you're from the midwest and into underground music, you probably grew up with them. The "you're just trying to impress everyone all the time" argument is getting pretty weak.

Anonymous (July 17, 2004)

Yeah, I have heard the "Embos" (assuming that you mean the Embarassment) - and so I actually know what I'm talking about when I say that you're totally, laughably wrong.

Next time you want to name-drop to impress the kids, try something a little more obscure.

Anonymous (July 17, 2004)

There are several types of pop-punk, though. The Embos don't even sound that much like that, so stop. I'm betting you've never even heard them, so cool it.

-BSD

Anonymous (July 16, 2004)

The comment below is just stupid. What about years of pop-punk? Is Green Day emo in your book? The Descendents? Your definition of emo covers practically everything and totally ignores pop-punk as a genre in favor of the more recent "emo". Plus, you overlook the fact that most of the influential emo bands from recent years owe it all to Sunny Day Real Estate. And if you think SDRE sounds like the Embarassment... well... you're just wrong.

Also, I've always thought Rites of Spring gets too much credit and Husker Du too little. By way of example: Lifetime was heavily influenced by the Du and the Lifetime sound has been pretty influential on a ton of current bands.

Anonymous (July 16, 2004)

"I just went online and found some tunes by the Embarassment and they sound really new-wave and more like the Buzzcocks than "emo.""

That's because that's what "emo" was really supposed to be, read the lyrics... as things progressed and more suburbanite kids started copping old Rites of Spring and Embarassment records and melding it with crappy modern bands and some kids dared to blend the "nerd " look with the "mod" look all of a sudden you get this neo-emo shit that's so huge right now in high schools all over america!

CallingLondon (July 14, 2004)

but...this song is sweet.

Anonymous (July 14, 2004)

I just went online and found some tunes by the Embarassment and they sound really new-wave and more like the Buzzcocks than "emo."

Anonymous (July 14, 2004)

The Embarrassment, rather!!!

-BSD

Anonymous (July 14, 2004)

It's not if you listen to the Embarressment... They were doing slow, punk rock emo befor emo got slow. They were being introverted, lonely, and overtly geeky before the Rites of Spring broke up and helped form Embrace.

On top of that, they actually made great music. I always see "emo" as punk music that's overtly artsy, basically a harder post-punk, which is what this band was.

So say what you will, but the Embarressment were around before Minor Threat even formed.

-BSD

Anonymous (July 14, 2004)

The first emo band was from the midwest? That's absurd.

Anonymous (July 13, 2004)

Braid isn't that old.

As far as I'm concerned, the first emo band ever was from the Midwest, too, the Embarressment, and they make these guys and Braid combined look like a pile o' puke.

-BSD

Anonymous (July 13, 2004)

I just saw this on sale at Tower Records. Right next to the new Vandals album which was marked (I assume by accident) at 19.99.

Anonymous (July 13, 2004)

Yeah, it's Derek Kun from Guy Smiley, and the guitarist from RIverdale High. I was never a fan of Guy Smiley's recorded stuff, but they always played an energitic good show.

Same I find with this album. Average record, awesome live.

hungryjoe (July 13, 2004)

Is this the same burnthe8track that formed out the the ashes of the Winnipeg band Guy Smiley?

I never really liked Guy Smiley. The record store wouldn't even take my copy of Alkaline off my hands.