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Biology

Making Moves
2005
Vagrant

Biology - Making Moves (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Aubin
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Published on October 7th 2005

The insufficiently named “emo” genre seems to have diversified so much that it makes little sense to think of it as a single style anymore. Like ska and punk, it's reached the point where you definitely see it as being part of several distinct subgenres.

The progenitor of the genre is certainly typified by the early Dischord acts: Rites of Spring, Embrace and even Jawbox. It was hardcore, just inward focused. The second “wave” of sorts would be that which was nearly monopolized by Revelation in the 90s: Emotional post-hardcore bands like Texas Is the Reason and Elliott, but also bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and the Promise Ring. The third wave is where we find most of the newer bands; it's a hastily grouped crowd of misnamed indie rock, screamo and acoustic music.

In the case of Biology, you find a member of the third wave aiming to pay tribute to the second. From Autumn to Ashes co-vocalist/drummer Francis Mark saw his current band as being an inappropriate place for some of the songs he was writing, so he enlisted the aid of a bandmate, a former member of Engine Down and producer Brian McTernan in order to produce Making Moves.

In that sense, Making Moves is a real success; the album successfully channels the sound and energy of that much loved subgenre infusing it with some modern touches. What is most striking about the album is how restrained it is; unlike his other band's prominent breakdowns and freakouts, Mark endows Biology with an understanding of the importance of “quiet.”

Mark, a vocalist who has his share of detractors and seems cursed with the archetypical nü-emo voice, stretches himself a little and is actually deserving of quite a bit of acclaim for his nuanced performance. Instead of the (intentional) melodrama that defined The Fiction We Live and Abandon Your Friends, the lyrics and vocals are brooding, mature and refreshing.

His bandmates turn in equally respectable performances; former Engine Down drummer Cornbread Compton is vivid on the drums, anchoring the band with a powerful rhythm section. The guitars invoke the expanse of Revelation emo acts, with a touch of Quicksand thrown in, and McTernan manages to ably condense the tone of the band into a coherent mix.

Making Moves is a challenging and interesting album, a solid package of worthy songs which are confident enough to avoiding needing to bang you over the head with a hook or breakdown. It's not groundbreaking, as it's certainly retreading the territory of those second wave bands, but it's done with enough reverence and creativity to stand on its own.

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 10:41 PM (EST)

I love FATA, and now love Biology. Both bands are great, and anyone who disagrees has, pretty much, no taste in music.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 8, 2005 at 11:42 PM (EDT)
My Score:

I checked this album out expecting to hate it, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was.

Posted by Anchors on 2005-10-08 12:48:13
My Score:

I hate when I hear something about Embrace, then realize that people are referring to the shitty band with that name around today, and not Ian Mackaye's awesome band with the same name.

Score's for that Embrace.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 7, 2005 at 10:53 PM (EDT)

"Also, on a completely unrelated note, I've said it before and I feel the need to repeat it again. Any wrestling fans who haven't checked out Ring of Honor (www.rohwrestling.com, owned by "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, unfortunately not accompanied by Sweet Sapphire), you're playin' yourself, particularly ECW fans. The guys beat the living fuck out of each other, and they're also innovative. Check your favorite file-sharing network for matches, too."

great to know there's another ROH fan here. i've got front row tickets to the 10/14 cleveland show, and i plan on seeing 10/15 in buffalo. this will be my first (and hopefully second) live show(s), and i can't fucking wait.

and, unfortunately, ROH isn't owned by dusty rhodes, although he did make several appearances throughout the history of the company.

and also, if you were at the 10/01 show with the samoa joe/kenta kobashi main event, i couldn't be more jealous.

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-10-07 20:24:46

biology sucks

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by Icapped2pac on 2005-10-07 19:29:23

"The guitars invoke the expanse of Revelation emo acts, with a touch of Quicksand thrown in"

I hate FATA, but that line alone makes me willing to give it a chance.

Also, on a completely unrelated note, I've said it before and I feel the need to repeat it again. Any wrestling fans who haven't checked out Ring of Honor (www.rohwrestling.com, owned by "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, unfortunately not accompanied by Sweet Sapphire), you're playin' yourself, particularly ECW fans. The guys beat the living fuck out of each other, and they're also innovative. Check your favorite file-sharing network for matches, too.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 7, 2005 at 6:56 PM (EDT)

Anything involving FATA should be destroyed on principle. I can't even begin to describe how bad they are.

OC

Posted by kenjamin on 2005-10-07 18:38:31

he probably skipped them because this band wasn't even remotely influenced by indian summer or Heroin.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 7, 2005 at 4:07 PM (EDT)

not to be annoying but you skipped alot of the real emo bands...indian summer moss icon heroin etc.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 7, 2005 at 3:06 PM (EDT)

this guys voice still bugs me

Posted by sickboi on 2005-10-07 09:20:43

I love Aubin, but I'm tired of reading reviews that explain the history of "emo".

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 7, 2005 at 9:09 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Given that Josh Newton (Shiner) is in this, I was hoping this would be of that style.

Unfortunately I find this album to be mediocre, and nothing like Shiner (or bands of that nature).

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 7, 2005 at 3:42 AM (EDT)
My Score:

embrace & rites of spring rule...this is lame shit

Posted by SomeoneAnonymous on 2005-10-07 02:48:40

I thought Cornbread was the bass player of Engine Down?

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 7, 2005 at 2:03 AM (EDT)

Cornbread is freakin' awesome.

I'm pleasantly surprised by this album and I don't like FATA AT ALL.

Posted by stricken on 2005-10-07 00:46:37

i said full too many times down there... damnit

Posted by stricken on 2005-10-07 00:46:08
My Score:

i just picked this up yesterday... good album, but i still need to actually sit down and listen to the full thing before i have a full opinion of it.

Born Again Virgins is by far the best song though... that one...

Posted by inagreendase on 2005-10-07 00:09:57

the album successfully channels the sound and energy of that much loved subgenre

...and suddenly, I'm pretty interested in hearing this.

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