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The Van Ermans

Under The Gun (2005)
Broken Spoke

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on August 19th 2005

The elementary school talent show. While it may have been an excuse to get out of doing long division or studying state capitals for a few hours, it was always essentially just as boring as the work you were doing anyhow. But did you care? Hell no, you were out of class! Of course, none of these acts would be any good; you’d have some juggling, maybe a song or two, or the same kid every year who tried to ride a unicycle but fell down anyhow. Nothing to remember ever comes out of these things, but wait, there are the Van Ermans. This band comprised of 3 kids who can’t even legally buy a 12-pack yet actually got their start, you guessed it, at an elementary school talent show.

Seven years, two albums, and an EP later, by way of Broken Spoke Records the band is releasing Under The Gun. This leaves a band in an interesting situation, as 7 years into most band's careers playing this style they’re inching ever closer to being 30. Nonetheless, and despite their pop-punk approach, the band displays a maturity not seen in a lot of 19-year-old musicians. If anything, the three youngsters play well off each other, and sure as hell know how to write a catchy tune. Infectious hooks and three-part harmonies dominate the bulk of these songs, and they really endear you to the album.

Things kick off right with “I Live My Life Like A French Movie" (hello Fall Out Boy), which combines a bouncy chord progression with Ian Graham and Ben Keeler’s terrific harmonizing. The verses carry well into the choruses, which are among the catchiest on the entire album. The song also slightly reminds me of AFI’s “Girl's Not Grey” as far as inflection in the chorus, but the overall mood of the record is far less dark than anything Davey Havok has ever had a hand in. There are bits and pieces of brilliance that fade in and out of the record like a radio signal. Sometimes the magic is there, and other times the song structures just make things fall flat. This could also be due to the fact that the band just outstays their welcome for this type of music, as 46 minutes just stretches the attention span a tad too far. All things considered, chalk it up to their maturity that they were able to write something that long, but next time, shaving off 10 minutes or so wouldn’t hurt things.

The band's maturity is missing one facet, however: lyrics;

Sometimes I feel restless, I feel overdone / I’m so sick, so tired of my everyday time complications / Hard to be -- just to breathe, you’re a habit I don’t need / All this seemed, repetition to me/ So much time, so little of it set aside for me to live my life.

Ouch guys, that’s going to dock you some points.

Youthful exuberance will only take a band so far, and the Van Ermans have found the end of that road on this album. Admittedly, they’re far past the majority of bands their age in maturity and songwriting, but a few more years and a better understanding of how important flow to an album is will do great things for this trio. A commendable effort from a young band with all the potential pop-punk could possibly offer.

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xjustmyluckx (June 10, 2006)

Horrible review. You never really clarify your actual feelings on the album nor do you actually make a distinct review of the album. You wave back and forth on your opinion. The album is catchy as hell, has the hooks and the potential to be something more, which is something that always pushes a band to top themselves.

Anonymous (December 18, 2005)

fox trotsky played with mustard plug and met ian and ever since they've had a very close relationship. so i am happy that the van ermans exist at all. im myke. i live with a guy who used to be friends with a guy who was in a band that the guys from fox trotsky were in before fox trotsky was around. im pretty much famous.

Anonymous (October 11, 2005)

I don't understand where everyone is getting the impression that Anchor started off by dissing the band. I perceived mostly compliments (ie., "they play well off each other", "they sure know how to write a catchy melody", etc.). And I thought the alcohol comment referred tothe guys' age when they started the band (around age 11). So calm the fuck down, everyone. Everyone is allowedtheir own opinion. Ithink you're just pissed that someone else is publishing one (and probably getting paid, too!) that doesn't agree with your own. Or something. And I don't apologize ifthis pisses you off, too. Suck it the fuck up, buttercup.

Anonymous (August 22, 2005)

soooo...what does the record sound like?

just because someone doesn't like it, it's their job to at least say something about it so other people might.

Anonymous (August 22, 2005)

Hah, the last thing I need in my life to complicate it more is to get laid, but if anybody would care to offer... Ben @ 517.896.3931, call me anytime.

Anonymous (August 21, 2005)

I played a show with these kids a loooong time ago and they were really nice. Not a big fan of their style, but they were cool. Talk to them if you ever see them.

Oh yeah, Michigan Represent! (even though I now live in Illinois)

-Ken

Timis (August 20, 2005)

"don't hate me because i am beautiful"

these dudes are utter garbage

AlmostPunkEnough (August 19, 2005)

why does everyone bitch about Anchors intros? every monday and thursday night when i look through the new reviews the only thing i definitley read are the first paragraphs of his reviews. at least i'm garunteed something different and original every time. i might not always agree with his taste, but it's always a good read.

keep it up.

SkolarX (August 19, 2005)

in answer to the comment a couple down. same royce, he is in blueprint 76 now
www.myspace.com/blueprint76