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Ever We Fall

We Are But Human (2006)
Hopeless Records

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on February 24th 2006

I'd like to issue a formal congratulations to Hopeless Records for releasing their finest effort in over two and a half years. It's no punk rock throwback, but Ever We Fall's We Are But Human is a partially catchy and pretty creative effort from an outfit sticking out in a bit in a crowded era of token emo acts.

While the band are indeed a third wave emo band embracing the aesthetic of a newfound wave of high-pitched vocalists (see: Circa Survive's Anthony Green, Chiodos' Craig Owens, Portugal. The Man's John Gourley), they're also like the similarly-minded Days Away, producing a dreamy, pop-inflected style that in the very least nods back to the second wave. The band is only a three-piece, but they manage to paint the walls of their reflective cuts with plenty of atmospheric strokes and bouncy rythms.

Easily, the standout is "Youth Like Tigers," which finds the three-piece busting out of the gates in a perfectly sunny manner and likely referencing their short legacy as a band with vocalist/guitarist Adam Brazie singing "Yeahhh! Look what we've done / Years have past, but this is all still fun." "No Sleep for Dreaming" suggests a smarter, less whiny Armor for Sleep, while the soft drum fills and riffs of "Bring 'Em in Billy" work well. "State Bird the Mosquito" is another solid track, with some cool, almost Asian-sounding guitar twinkling in its bridge and charged "GREEN LIGHT SAYS GO!" gang shouts. "No Words to Describe" is beautifully delicate in its dark, emotional conveyance, but it is however placed at the 8-spot and lasts a touchy 9 minutes.

We Are But Human suffers mostly from its length. It's hard to stay attentive for a style like this for over 53 minutes, but it's undoubtedly not without its great little moments. On another note, I'm stoked to see Hopeless release two fine efforts on the same day, and I'm consequently suddenly looking forward to see what's coming further down the line, both from the band and label.

STREAM
We Are But Human

MP3s
Schoolyard Crush [clip]
State Bird the Mosquito

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Kursk (March 21, 2007)

score is for Youth Like Tigers and State Bird The Mosquito, the rest of the album is ok.

Anonymous (April 29, 2006)

yeh uh huh. so another band with dudes wearing girls jeans?

historypeats (February 27, 2006)

This is a dramatic improvement on their EP, which wasn't good at all. This disc is mainly hampered by the bloated runtime, and while barely above average, demonstrates promise for the future. They're trying to do more than the average band in this nebulous genre, and if these guys can make a similar leap before their next disc, they may be a legitimately good band soon.

Anonymous (February 27, 2006)

this band is complete crap, HOWEVER this album would make a great coaster for my beer.

Anonymous (February 25, 2006)

I don't know, I never saw "emo" as anything more than an incidental genre; that is, until recently, no bands ever set out to be "emo." What was emo before just happened to fall into that category in retrospect. In the old days, I hardly think what we now consider to be emo bands ever listened to each other- And if they did, they didn't influence each other on a national scale too much. I mean, Moss Icon and cap'n jazz were around at the same time. Promise Ring, Hot Water Music, and Swing Kids were all recording at the same time. None of the music is similar enough to really keep track of.

-Will

Anonymous (February 25, 2006)

I heard this band is really weird, like the touch each other's penises on stage and stuff. They hold their penises together that is. kind of wrap them around each other.

clamum (February 25, 2006)

"Ever We Fall"? Who comes up with a name like that, some 16 year old sitting in his bedroom wallowing in self-pity from the breakup with his girlfriend he just had?

inagreendase (February 25, 2006)

Will, your argument is flawed. caP'n Jazz and the Promise Ring shared members and subsequently, regions, but they didn't sound anything alike. The latter played pop-inflected emo rock that came to be the blueprint for bands of their style in that era. I mean shit, Texas Is the Reason was from NYC and they certainly fall into this group. Emo certainly existed/exists regionally, but you can't deny that it has a lineage.

Anonymous (February 25, 2006)

rkl, to clarify: Not at all.

Emo cannot be graphed in "waves"- this is because it is more of a regional movement than one based on timed trends. Sure, post-hardcore bands were all influenced by each other, but each region has their own distinct sound. For instance, cap'N Jazz pretty much set the standard for midwester emo/indie in the early-mid 90's. On the West Coast, bands were more Fugazi/Embrace influenced (Moss Icon) and later evolved into "screamo" (Orchid). In Florida, Hot Water Music have been doing emo forever.

So, I would say that you can only describe emo/post-hardcore by where-ever its influences come from (DC, San Diego, New Jersey, Florida, Lawrence, etc.)

-Will

inagreendase (February 24, 2006)

rkl: Yes, pretty much.

rkl (February 24, 2006)

okay, so if the first wave of emo was rites of spring etc, is the second wave jawbreaker?
color me confused

Anonymous (February 24, 2006)

to expand on the comment below, add nitro tothat list. i miss 90's skate punk.

Anonymous (February 24, 2006)

remember when this label was good? about 10 years ago? remember the first hopelessly devoted to you comp? those were the days. just like fearless records, hopeless has gone done the shitter.

colin (February 24, 2006)

"Uh what does an Asian guitar sound like? Do Asian guitars have sideways vaginas?

-Will"

that's gotta be the funniest thing you've ever said. i choked on my drink.

Anonymous (February 24, 2006)

Uh what does an Asian guitar sound like? Do Asian guitars have sideways vaginas?

-Will