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Sometimes you just know it’s going to be good.

Having been totally in love with Christie Front Drive, one of the original bands of what I guess people used to consider emo, and to a lesser extent Antarctica, I was thrilled to find out that Eric Richter, who fronted both of those bands, had a new band called the 101. And to cut to the chase, it’s good. Really, really good.

The music is pretty far off from both Christie Front Drive and Antarctica. The songs here are much more upbeat than anything Eric Richter has put out before. The guitars jangle, the bass pumps, and everything just bounces along. Hooks and melodies just ooze from these five songs. There are even a couple of little breakdowns here and there, like in “Real.” Granted, it's not the most original music, but it’s damn catchy, and a welcome addition to the varied styles Richter has played.

Eric Richter sounds just as he did in Christie Front Drive, but with quite a bit of passion and energy in his voice. His delivery in “Psychotropic Love” and “6/8” especially stand out. He has some effects sprinkled on his voice but it’s never anything too distracting. Lyrically, we have personal little ditties, but it's never overbearing lovey-dovey mush. Of course, it would have been helpful to have included the lyrics, but you can’t win them all.

The production leaves a bit to be desired. The vocals just seem to be a bit too low in the mix, but on the plus side, the bass is very nicely audible. In addition to the less-than-stellar production, the EP is way too short. The five songs bounce by in less than twelve minutes. Just when you really get into it, it’s over. Luckily, the 101 already has their debut full-length out and ready to rock.

Without a doubt, Eric Richter has again brought us audio gold. With these five songs, we get a good taste of what the 101 has to offer. If their 2005 full-length Green Street fixes the minor production problems and stays on the same track as this EP, then the 101 could become a major force of upbeat pop-rock.



People who liked this also liked:
The Postal Service - Give UpThe Cure - DisintegrationGet Up Kids - Something To Write Home AboutGet Up Kids - Guilt ShowAnd You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Source Tags and CodesVaux - There Must Be Some Way To Stop ThemAt The Drive-In - Relationship Of CommandThe Strokes - First Impressions of EarthMinutemen - Double Nickels on the DimeSocial Distortion - Live at the Roxy



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    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 25, 2005 at 2:08 AM (EDT)

    "Jimmy Eat World...they quote CFD...."

    I remember them doing a split with CFD, but saying that it was because they were friends. Plus, if you knew anything about anything you'd know that JEW started out as an almost skate-punk band with SDRE leanings (that only got more pronounced as they matured). And I could be wrong, but I think their first album came out either before or around the same time as CFD's first, which makes the whole "musical influence" thing extra unlikely.

    I guess what's really important is that you're wrong, though. So nany-nany boo-boo.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 24, 2005 at 7:36 PM (EDT)

    "Christie Front Drive were anything but influential. I can't ever recall a recent band citing CFD as an influence what-so-ever."

    Ever heard of a little band called Jimmy Eat World...they quote CFD as one of their main influences and really owe much of their career to the band and have mentioned so on many occasions.

    Theres really no question here...CFD were traiblazers and if you don't think so then you need to do your HW and come back with a better argument. I'm game if you are...

    -burning13

    Posted by Kenjamin on 2005-04-24 02:01:59

    Christie Front Drive were anything but influential. I can't ever recall a recent band citing CFD as an influence what-so-ever.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 24, 2005 at 12:18 AM (EDT)

    "as is your post...no wonder you're anonymous...ur missing out on one of the most influential bands of our generation..."

    Influential? Maybe as a cautionary tale: "how to make uninspired emo in twelve easy steps." They were an ok band back when there weren't a lot of other "emo" choices... but that's it. And they certainly didn't stand out among their peers.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 10:47 PM (EDT)

    "CFD were second rate."

    as is your post...no wonder you're anonymous...ur missing out on one of the most influential bands of our generation...

    -burning13

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-04-23 21:46:25

    are they named after the freeway, or are they just named after a number

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 5:06 PM (EDT)

    My little diagram wasn't referring to WHEN bands were formed, it was referring to how GOOD those bands were. CFD were second rate. Deal with it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 3:45 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Christie Front Drive was around long before Mineral.
    Their first LP was released in 1994, Power of Failing was released in 1997.

    Stop bitching about bands you don't know shit about.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 2:59 PM (EDT)

    Ewww. Sapsm 151? I have some of their 7 inches from the late 90s... not good.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 2:23 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Score is for Spasm 151 which is the reason I like Texas.

    -Ken

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 6:04 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Score is for Sunny Day Real Estate

    "Christie Front Drive was the retarded younger brother of Mineral.

    Mineral was the retarded cousin of Texas is the Reason.

    Texas is the Reason was best friends with the Promise Ring.

    Sunny Day Real Estate was the cool older kid who lived down the street."

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 22, 2005 at 5:09 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    maybe these dudes should wait till they actucally get out of the 101 classes, upper division man..thats where you learn your shit.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 22, 2005 at 4:40 PM (EDT)

    I'm not the least bit surprised that the vocals are low in the mix.

    Posted by sickboi on 2005-04-22 14:21:23

    Well said.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 22, 2005 at 1:55 PM (EDT)

    Christie Front Drive was the retarded younger brother of Mineral.

    Mineral was the retarded cousin of Texas is the Reason.

    Texas is the Reason was best friends with the Promise Ring.

    Sunny Day Real Estate was the cool older kid who lived down the street.

    Posted by sickboi on 2005-04-22 12:27:46

    This cat needs to stop jocking "Christie Front Drive" so hard in this review.

    I, and many others, probably have no fucking clue who this "original" emo band is.

    Posted by Kenjamin on 2005-04-22 11:35:36

    all of their songs sound the same to me, but granted, they're all pretty darn good.

    Posted by Inspection12e on 2005-04-22 10:58:59

    I didn't think this release was anywhere near as good as his former bands and definately not worth your money. There are some great bands on Self Starter like Western Keys, Haywood and The Red and The Black.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 22, 2005 at 10:14 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Everyone should checkout Green Street...101s full length. Its flown way under the radar and one of the best discs of late...

    http://www.the101.net/neverin.mp3

    -burning13

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 22, 2005 at 12:53 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Me: "A 101ers review? Cool."

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