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Downtown Singapore

Understanding A Guarantee (2005)
DCide

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on February 8th 2005

Although Downtown Singapore's press release might promise all sorts of ridiculous trendhopping ("Jerry suggests the most apt description of their music is a 'mix between Coheed & Cambria and Thursday'") and clichéd denying of such ("We're a rock band"), the band is actually a far cry from a fair deal associated with such. A young and honest voice resembling the lead singer of Fairweather fronts the band, whose sound at times emulates Something To Write..-era Get Up Kids or most especially the slower moments on If They Move...Kill Them. They're still pretty derivative, but it's void of screaming, synth, and breakdowns (except for some silly riffs in "Love Gift"), so I don't see what the P.R. is trying to pull in kids about.

The one time they do take from Thursday is in some of the riffs in "Lower East Side," which actually works quite well in favor of the band; the emotions seem most stripped down here and at the same time seems much darker in mood in contrast to the rest of the EP, with some interesting pace changes and the strongest work the vocalist puts forth. The rest of the tracks just drag too much or make ill use of repetition and lyrics in need of less oblivious contexts.

One looming fault is how they rip off most of Fairweather's "South Street 1 AM" in "Velvet Divorce." Not only do the intros use a lot of the same midtempo guitar strokes to create an emotional atmosphere, but they make the same transition in the first minute, letting them softly fade so the vocals can crawl forth.

The band doesn't take themselves too seriously, as shown by their cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" that closes the EP. It's pretty cheesy and sort of kills any emotions that might've been building in the album, but with every vocal croon it sounds like someone's about to burst out into laughter, so at least they're having fun and keep it tight.

Understanding A Guarantee certainly has a moment here or there. It manages to avoid most badly-chosen, contemporary emo fare in favor of reaching back at least a couple years prior, but if it could strengthen those qualities and disperse them well, a solid record is in the works.

STREAM
The Month Of May
Goodnight Lord
Velvet Divorce

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Anonymous (December 12, 2005)

I am an indirect fan of this band. I don't listen to rock unless it come on 99.5, and I didn't know what Emo was until my brother and old roommate explained it to me. I went to school with these guys and my brother is good friends with them. While I'm not extremely close to them or know them all that well (except fot the lead singer.) I do know that they have an amazing fuggin ass talent. I'm straight hip hop with a little MTV chaser, but for a good month I was blasting their CD from Waldorf to Oxon Hill to DC listening to Month of May and was very impressed with what I heard. Anyway. Much love to the band who wouldn't even think I was a fan.

thekaties (March 2, 2005)

before you make any decsion about this band, you have to see them play live. their cd doesn't do justice to the band itself. the stage presence of this band is fantastic and makes anyone, whether they know the songs or not, wanna jam out and sing along. add on to that the fact that the guys themselves are fucking hilarious and completely down-to-earth and nice, and there's no way you could not like downtonwn. these guys work their asses off to put on a good show for their fans and they do a damn good job. so get their cd, but make sure you see them play live...so you can fully appreciate what is downtown singapore.

Anonymous (February 19, 2005)

Downtown, u guys rock, critix are asses, remember they are getting paid to do this. i have been to a bunch of your shows, and u all have an awsome stage presence. (and awsome body's!!!!) lol. ...i wish you could just put some of that into ur cd. Your album rox!!! ....keep up the good work, i know you guys will eventually get an awsome award in the longrun for all of your hard work that u have put onto the band. (that sounded soccer mom-ish but w/e).
Hope to see you at your next show!!!
-ur biggest fan

Anonymous (February 14, 2005)

its so easy to be a critic. that role is left for the talentless and small dicks of the world. if you would check out their web site and see the live video's you would see they throw down and have their shit together. i saw these guys 2 months ago and they shamed every other band on the bill and were as friendly as a walmart door greeter.

Anonymous (February 12, 2005)

dude what are you talking about? ive been listening to these guys for a few years now and they sound nothing like fairweather? the get up kids i can see in the vocals but thats about it.
good luck with the rest of your writing career, looks like your gonna need it?

Anonymous (February 11, 2005)

I went to school with these guys. they are fags. nothing good has ever come out of waldorf/la plata. and probably never will.

Ditto to that

Anonymous (February 10, 2005)

yea, a very gay sucky one.

Anonymous (February 10, 2005)

Im in a band and we are really good friends with Downtown, but don't let my bias fool you. I am probalby one of the most critical people on the earth haha. But anyways, I just wanted to say that this record does not capture what is Downtown Singapore. You must see them live before making any judgements on this EP. I respect everyone being harsh but please see them live and you'll see a totally different band.

Anonymous (February 9, 2005)

wow you weren't kidding about the get up kid type vocals

Anonymous (February 8, 2005)

I went to school with these guys. they are fags. nothing good has ever come out of waldorf/la plata. and probably never will.

potshotrocker (February 8, 2005)

understanding a guarantee in a car crash

Anonymous (February 8, 2005)

Jones is on a roll.

-Chinatown