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Vaux

Plague Music (2004)
Equal Vision Records

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on October 5th 2004

In short: Vaux’s five song EP Plague Music (Equal Vision) is simply a logical extension of the group’s sound. “Celibate Good Times” starts the disk off, telling the story of a preacher who’s a few cards short of a full deck, all with a very “swaggery” feel, like the song is a town’s gunman walking into to a crowded bar back in the Old West. The chorus, (ironically enough), kills. I caught myself screaming it out whenever the song comes on.

There are saints that should be hung/Forget the cross, Worship the gun/Bang Bang/ I hope your hell is hot enough/ forget the cross worship the gun/ you’re at the gates and almost home/ bang bang/hope your hell is hot enough…

On “RAID!” (hey, I don’t make these names up), the vocalist Quentin Smith continues his neurotic, demented lyrics about death, murder and love.

You said you found out/ It’s a raid now!/See how it goes down/when the alarm sounds/I know they’re coming for you!

“Dearest Darkest” sounds like a typical Vaux song, dark, about sex, and probably about murder somewhere along the line. That’s not a criticism, but a statement of fact. It sounds like a b-side from There Must Be Some Way to Stop Them and that’s a very good thing.

Musically, its more of the same aggressive post hardcore, with a few twists. I don’t remember a Persian influence on There Must Be Some Way to Stop Them, which works fabulously on “Sex Will Happen Tonight”, turning a dirty song lyrically into something you might hear out of a Persian harem in its heyday. Odd as it sounds, it works. While odd, it fits nicely, especially when you consider its before the face melting title (and last track). “Plague Music” wouldn’t sound out of place in Vaux’s full length save that time, the lyrics are even better, the song more cohesive, the screams more insane.

If you loved the original full length, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t like this one. The production is better, the mixing is better, the songs are more cohesive, and the band sounds tighter than ever. If you already like Vaux, as well as seeing them on tour now, then pick this one up. If you don’t like Vaux, give this one a shot, you might be surprised.

MP3

Celibate Good Times

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Anonymous (November 23, 2005)

One of the best EPs I have, easy to listen to with memorable pieces in each song which is important on a short release. TMBSWTST is a great album but this EP shows some development and definitely sounds cleaner without sounding overdone and cheesy. Track 4 is odd though but it does seem to work as part of the cd, rather than a song on its own. Currently listening to some songs off their new release which displays a more drastic change in sound, although the general vauxism underlies it. Get this CD if you want to hear Vaux at their most recent best, before their change of style.

nuthinbutdisastor (January 11, 2005)

i just picked it up about an hour ago, and i fuckin love it, awesome job, i heard vaux at the warped tour a couple years ago back home in pittsburgh they fuckin rock live, and i have to say this ep, shows wats in store for the full length to come

Anonymous (October 11, 2004)

this band is overrated. i hate equal vision.

Anonymous (October 8, 2004)

""denver what??"

Vaux > Fear Before the March of Flames

Planes Mistaken For Stars > Fear Before the blah blah blah"

i'm quite sure how to respond to that statement, it is essentially true though

despite the bullshit scene developing in the denver area there are some decent bands around here aside from the aforementioned

the gamits, for my sins, grace like gravity, cost of living, grace gale, signal to noise, action shot (ska), cherrybomb suicides

maybe colorado hasn't had its fair share of big punk acts, but jello did grow up in boulder

plus, the larimer lounge is one of the best music venues i have ever been to

Anonymous (October 7, 2004)

the first song on their last disc has an exact Black Sabbath Guitar Part in the breakdown. They knew that right? Please tell me they knew that?

Barkley

boba_fett (October 6, 2004)

not for me.

slippy (October 6, 2004)

Really good band.

Anonymous (October 6, 2004)

EP of the year. HAHA

jamespastepunk (October 6, 2004)

No, I'm not. I can listen to this record at a reasonably loud volume in every speaker system I have, as opposed to their full length, where I have to crank it up full blast to get a good amount of volume in the songs.

Plus, everything sounds cleaner than the first one. The lead singer's vocals are more sibilant and easier to hear.

Anonymous (October 6, 2004)

"The production is better, the mixing is better, the songs are more cohesive" >>>You're kidding me right?

Anonymous (October 6, 2004)

"denver what??"

Vaux > Fear Before the March of Flames

Planes Mistaken For Stars > Fear Before the blah blah blah

colin (October 6, 2004)

i thought i wouldn't be in the minority when i declared my hatred for this band... odd.

the full length was ... listenable, but far from anything worth talking about.

jamespastepunk (October 5, 2004)

I should have noted that the packaging for this CD is great, and worth a look see.

Anonymous (October 5, 2004)

denver what??

Anonymous (October 5, 2004)

awesome EP

Anonymous (October 5, 2004)

Their first album is amazing.

inagreendase (October 5, 2004)

Definite improvement on the full-length.

Bosco (October 5, 2004)

I've been waiting for a review of this beast. It's the best work Vaux has ever done and is my favorite release of the last few months, can't wait for the new full-length if they continue along these lines.

Anonymous (October 5, 2004)

this band kicks your ass.