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Crime In Stereo

The Contract (2005)
Blackout! Records

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

Published on August 2nd 2005

Let's dedicate this moment to sour band-label relationships, because if it wasn't for such, we wouldn't get great little "get out quick" records like Crime In Stereo's newest EP, the very not obilquely titled The Contract, the record that allowed the band to leave Blackout! Records and deservedly make their recent signing to Nitro.

Some seriously refreshing melodic hardcore was the recipe for the band's 2004 debut full-length, Explosives And The Will To Use Them, and here there's an emphasis on the "melodic," but in a really, really good way. While a pretty underwhelming length at around nine minutes long, The Contract does not let up for a second in its four tracks, providing a swell bout of singalong hardcore punk inside of an airtight recording for those a bit alienated by the perhaps too rough edges of Explosives.

The 30-second "Long Song Titles Aren't Cool Anymore Because The Rest Of You Fuckers Are No Good At It" swipes at their "contemporaries" with the sole lyric "I can't believe you kids are still on this eyeliner and 'my girlfriend's dead' shit / what if the biggest part of trends is knowing when to give up on them? / listen: you've got to give it up," and has a breakdown bearing a stronger resemblance to Gorilla Biscuits than ever (production style and gang vocal shouts, even), though it's rather notable here because the rest of the record proves the band are relying more on their melodic punk leanings, with further comparisons to Strike Anywhere more than likely to be drawn.

"Jesus Is My Ride Home" is a nice addition, and the aforementioned "Long Song Titles" a great cut, but it's the opening and closing tracks that really stand out. The former, "New Harlem Shuffle," is a spectacular, upbeat track narrating a reaction to a draft notice, and it's one of the best the band's recorded yet, with the latter, "Sleeping Androids Do Dream Electric Sheep," a supremely anthemic song about life on the road with properly veiled metaphors and poppy harmonies that somehow work within the song amazingly, and a ridiculous hook of "send life support" and catchy as anything guitars to boot.

Crime In Stereo has been one of the top ambassadors for Long Island hardcore the past two years, and The Contract is further proof of such, not to mention providing a surefire contender for anyone remotely nerdy enough to compose a "top 5/10 EPs" list come the end of 2005.

MP3
Long Song Titles Aren't Cool Anymore Because The Rest Of You Fuckers Are No Good At It

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TIGHT (May 7, 2006)

this is a perfect EP

trailerparkjesus (August 4, 2005)

Yeaaah I didn't read the review, but Fugazi's awesome!

boba_fett (August 3, 2005)

these guys are awesome.

Anonymous (August 2, 2005)

anyone have this and want to hook a brother up? i'm not getting any results on soulseek. I hate paying for ep's

Colton (August 2, 2005)

best band ever.

If not the best then not far from.
This should be longer, it's going to have to entertain me until fall.

Anonymous (August 2, 2005)

having seen them monthly on long island since I moved to NY (about 18 months at this point) I know it was rare that they ever had their album for sale because the label never gave them copies. They even made the comment the last time I saw them "we actually have copies of the old full length, and who knows when or if we ever will again" or something to that extent. I wish I had extra money to pick up this EP the last time I saw them, but I'm sure I will be seeing them again soon, it has almost been a month since the last time.

johnnydanger (August 2, 2005)

best band ever.

Anonymous (August 2, 2005)

eyeliner core??? where does this stop???

moos (August 2, 2005)

"LOng Songs Blablah" must be the most unoriginal song i've heard in ages. yeeeees. i would rather listen to some eylinercore for a couple of minutes than to hear this crap again.

i can't believe i've put my Necros record off for this crap...

gregs (August 2, 2005)

The label that's releasing the vinyl hasn't even updated their site since February...that can't be good. I really don't want to have to buy the CD and the vinyl too but I doubt I can wait.

Anonymous (August 2, 2005)

Crime In Stereo paired with Nitro Records and the label's successful run of putting out good records as of late...I'm smelling another Nitro success.

Ramo
(CIS > CSI)

inagreendase (August 2, 2005)

is this simply the last "put it out to get it out" album on their contract or did they have problems with Blackout!

Both, as far as I know. Whenever they mention the contract was finished with this it's usually followed by a "thank God" of some sort, but they've never really disclosed just what their problems were with the label.

bizzlebrizzle (August 2, 2005)

This will probably be in the top 5 EPs of 05, but it's got some stiff competition....

This is Hell, How We Are, Betrayed, Loved Ones, and probably some others I'm forgetting.

Dante3000 (August 2, 2005)

I love the split these guys put out with KYI. Fucking great album. Just out of ignorance, what happened with Blackout!? I know they signed to Nitro but is this simply the last "put it out to get it out" album on their contract or did they have problems with Blackout!?
-Dante