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Down To Earth Approach - Another Intervention (Cover Artwork)

Down To Earth Approach

Down To Earth Approach: Another InterventionAnother Intervention (2004)
Vagrant Records

Reviewer Rating: 2.5
User Rating:


Contributed by: InaGreendaseBrian
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Let's face it: Vagrant Records doesn't take many chances. By relying on mostly surefire signees (see: Senses Fail's new album, From Autumn to Ashes after a smash debut on Ferret, Moneen and The Get Up Kids after promising debuts on slightly more obscure labels, Dashboard Confessional after a Drive-.
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Let's face it: Vagrant Records doesn't take many chances. By relying on mostly surefire signees (see: Senses Fail's new album, From Autumn to Ashes after a smash debut on Ferret, Moneen and The Get Up Kids after promising debuts on slightly more obscure labels, Dashboard Confessional after a Drive-Thru stint, Saves The Day after a successful pair of great albums on Equal Vision, et al), Vagrant has succeeded in this failsafe method and shot to near the top of the indie label hot list, assuming your judgments align with actual major / independent label standards.

So of course, just to spite all the naysayers, the label picks up Down To Earth Approach out of Bumblefuck, New York. The band's hotly derivative emo / power-pop / pop-rock style is done and done, with its standard nasal/whine hybrid and unthreatening tempo. Another Intervention is still chock full of catchy choruses and cute little hooks, but there isn't much more to it. Just about any song on the album could be a single. It's consistent, that's for sure, but mostly because every track strongly relies on a single formula. "Books On Tape" and "Living Rooms" are the closest the band comes to offering something drastically different from the rest of disc, either ever-so-slightly taking the pace down a bit or including some surface-sunk acoustics, respectively. Think the song structure of "Ten Minutes"-era Get Up Kids with a Four Minute Mile maturity.

As a bit of a footnote (or further support in the accusations of style copycatting), the first three seconds of "Triple Black" sounds exactly like the intro of Something Corporate's "Space." When the lead vocalist sings "be home" over gentle electric strumming, I can't help but think that SoCo's single must've popped up one day on DTEA's practice space radio.

Down to Earth Approach really expresses a style implied by their name. Their friendly songs will put their arm around you and tell you everything's going to be alright, but they won't be the answer to your quest for something completely new, fresh, and engaging.

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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 (August 6, 2004)

Think that last reviewed has it backwards -- great drums on "Exhibit," good car radio music on "Triple Black." Either way, this band is gonna be famous.

Anonymous (August 6, 2004)

This CD really does grow on you. The percussion on "Triple Black" is pure artistry, and "Exhibit of the Year" is better than anything I've heard on the radio in about 5 years.

Anonymous (August 6, 2004)

good production doesn't always mean clean. 2 of my favorite produced albums are "Progress" by the Rx Bandits and "Relationship of Command" by At the Drive-In. Maybe you can call Progress kind of clean, but RoC still has an incredible dark sound to their production. If I/C/O was produced that way, It would be incredible too, but it's just damn good on the music alone.

-TEG

Anonymous (August 6, 2004)

"Your opinion is pretty irrelevent to good music as a whole. "

again, BSD, you come off sounding like a nonsensical idiot...thank you!

kenjamin (August 6, 2004)

"with maybe 50% more production. "

-BSD

It's nice how you just throw in random numbers to make yourself sound knowledgeable. Some of these bands have such expensive gear with compressors and equalizers and whatnot on top of live protools rigs that "50% more production" would probably result in a record sounding like this but I"m too busy fucking myself to care.

slippy (August 6, 2004)

But BSD, this isn't punk rock.

Anonymous (August 6, 2004)

Not my punk rock rulebook... I took some acid and came across it in the Clue Rule Book. I was a little shocked, but it made perfect sense. Prof. Plumb always was a reject of society.

In all seriousness, go fuck yourself. Your opinion is pretty irrelevent to good music as a whole.

-BSD

Anonymous (August 6, 2004)

right, that's your opinion...or is that in your punk rock rule book

Anonymous (August 6, 2004)

It just means you'll wind up criticsizing albums that are ten times better than any pop-punk ones (The Clash's first, Black Flag, Repulsion) because you want the production to be perfect. Punk rock isn't supposed to be about making your sound as accessible and clean as possible, records are supposed to be a fairly accurate depiction of a live performance, with maybe 50% more production.

-BSD

Anonymous (August 5, 2004)

maybe it's because they want good sound...like anyone else

Anonymous (August 5, 2004)

It's hilarious how pop punk fans think production matters.

-BSD

Anonymous (August 5, 2004)

the album is a solid debut. good melodies, lyrics, and voice. i like it and look forward to more from this band.

Anonymous (August 4, 2004)

Not an awesome album, but I think it's a solid firt release for this band. It grows on you.

Katie4213 (August 4, 2004)

i got this ablum back in april. at first i was less than impressed. but after a few listens i was hooked. i think the reviewer needs to give it a few more listens. sure is has the pop/power punk sound, but the lyrics combined with the music and production make it a solid album. i love it. great summer music. i would reccomond it to anyone.

Anonymous (August 4, 2004)

independent of the post below...

even if he does listen to something corporate...who friggin cares??

Anonymous (August 4, 2004)

I thought it was a good review. Also you guys are fucking stupid for assuming he listens to SoCo like their his favorite band. I can vouch for him saying he doesn't listen to them often; at all.

Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

at least they're not from long island.

gooooo exit 48a on the thruway!

Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

w00!!! Hometown boys!!! Bumblefuck, represent!!!

kenjamin (August 3, 2004)

haha funniest comments ever. anyways i remember saying this band was pretty mediocre and some dick on here started chewing me out about how i was some privileged kid that didn't understand anything. I hope everything worked out OK for him

Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

I can't find "Bumblefuck, New York" on mapquest.

adam (August 3, 2004)

"how the FUCK do i get staff by my name? how do i have to fuck around here?"

You have to write a ton of reviews on your own, to the point that we think you're an extremely valuable contributor to the site and start giving you stuff to review.

-adam

Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

"how the FUCK do i get staff by my name? how do i have to fuck around here?"

how do you have to fuck? well hard, fast and ask no questions. shut your eyes, reach forward, hold on tight and fight back the tears. thats how you have to fuck.

Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

score is for Vagrant

Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

5? my album score is a 10.

theevilmonkey (August 3, 2004)

Or maybe what, in this case.

Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

you listen to something corporate. somehow the dial went fuzzy after that.

mykindofmurder (August 3, 2004)

or, who?

mykindofmurder (August 3, 2004)

i meant, whom.

mykindofmurder (August 3, 2004)

how the FUCK do i get staff by my name? how do i have to fuck around here?

slippy (August 3, 2004)

I just noticed that staff button. It just jumps right out at you.

Marlon (August 3, 2004)

After having listened to the streamed album a few times I'd have to say this review is pretty much perfect...

garbage (August 3, 2004)

you listen to something corporate, enough said. but this is one of the very few albums this year i still continue to listen to again and again.

Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

I guess.

-Costanza

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