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.Thedecember Drive

Handslikegunsand crashingsounds (2003)
American Jealousy

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on August 8th 2006

It's mindblowing how this band currently remains unsigned. To get an idea of what these five boys from southern Texas sound like, try this: combine the post-hardcore riffing of On the Might of Princes, the soothing melodies of mid-`90s emo such as Texas Is the Reason, and throw in some gutteral screams and piano-laden instrumentals á la Funeral Diner. And there you have it folks. A splendid combination.

Though most of the album is instrumental, the vocals seem to reside firmly in the background rather than at the forefront. This adds to the atmospheric and rather somber setting the entire album eminates.

Tracks such as the 14-minute "The Great Awakening" showcase the band's ability to transition from a very light piano tune complete with twinkling guitars into a powerful breakdown. The soaring vocals sometimes fall into a soft whisper then back into furious screams reminsicent of Geoff Rickley that rip through a wall of distortion and strong drumwork. Almost all the songs seem to build up and decrescendo at exactly the right moment.

The timing only adds to the momentum and overall cohesiveness of this album. Each song flows into the next to the point where the entire album could be mistaken for one 58-minute long track. That could be seen as a downfall for many bands, but .Thedecember Drive pulls it off, without any boring moments or unecessary filler.

I implore you all to check this band out. They're looking for a label to release their new album and hopefully they will land one soon.

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istapledmyfoot (August 10, 2006)

this is a lot less offensive than their name might indicate, the other dude was right, spacey emo, but pretty well done. It'd be perfect for mixtapes to the ladies.

Anonymous (August 10, 2006)

This is nothing like Texas is the Reason. This is spacey screamo music. Read the review on adequacy.net because it's more accurate.

This is for fans of stuff like Engine Down, folks,

Anonymous (August 9, 2006)

Hey! Jangly post-rock garbage! Its not like I've seen TEN FUCKING MILLION bands like this in the past year. "We have $12 cds for sale after the show!"

Archangel (August 9, 2006)

I listened to the stuff on their Myspace and was expecting MUCH better.

rkl (August 9, 2006)

Posted by colin on 2006-08-08 00:12:13

the band name is horrid but... texas is the resaon... maybe i'll have to check this out.

goddamn you for making me think about texas is the reason...
i still remember picking up their tape in some bargain bin and thinking, "oh cool, a 'bullet' reference."

i ended up chucking it out the window of my taurus, horrid crap.

so yeah, fuck you. asshole.

Anonymous (August 9, 2006)

Are you kidding me, they sound like fucking Death Cab for Cutie.

I got all excited because you compared them to those bands. Jerk =(

greyicewater (August 9, 2006)

i'm not hearing the funeral diner sound, but i definately hear hints of texas is the reason. it could just be the songs on myspace though giving me that. but i like what i hear. they are doing better than a lot of other bands going for this sound.

bombshoes (August 9, 2006)

on the might of princes? i'll have to check these guys out.

SilentStorms (August 9, 2006)

Yikes, I am not a big fan. Not screamo at all, just post-hardcore pop-punk. No Funeral Diner sound in the least.

Icapped2pac (August 8, 2006)

Definitely not nu-screamo, at least based on the songs on myspace. Thanks for this review, I probably would've written them off because of the horribly generic name. Now I just might buy their album.

HeresLookinAtYou (August 8, 2006)

they sound more then nu-screamoish to me

on the other hand I've been told my descriptions suck so I guess just listen and decide for yourself.

inagreendase (August 8, 2006)

combine the post-hardcore riffing of On the Might of Princes, the soothing melodies of mid-`90s emo such as Texas Is the Reason, and throw in some gutteral screams and piano-laden instrumentals á la Funeral Diner.

This description sounds WAY too good to be true, especially for a band who I've had pegged as nü-screamo ever since AP.net started hyping them years ago. Can anyone qualify this?

Anonymous (August 8, 2006)

Being from Southern Texas, these guys use to play all over the place. They even played at my college in College Station.
The only music we get there is shitty country. Anyways, they put on a good live show! Check em out!

- Jason

Anonymous (August 8, 2006)

"sounds like kids are still listening to Clarity."

It's much better than Futures.

themikestatic (August 8, 2006)

sounds like kids are still listening to Clarity.

they are good i guess. but lay off the jimmy eat world rip offs.

sirens (August 8, 2006)

so i want this.

coldwaffles (August 8, 2006)

The album name, art, and band name do not leave a good impression.

theTopher (August 8, 2006)

great album, and the new stuff is a little less atmospheric but just as good.

I've seen them quite a few times, and never have they had the silly period before their name. it's just the december drive, or sometimes thedecemberdrive

Anonymous (August 8, 2006)

Awesome band, good album. I'm glad someone reviewed this. I can't wait for another record from these guys.

Anonymous (August 8, 2006)

I'll check this out, but my god is this band name terrible. JUST CALL IT "THE DECEMBER DRIVE". No need for fancy x.ghrammares.

Inspection12e (August 8, 2006)

Band name is pretty bad but the music is good maybe even great. They need to finish that new album.

colin (August 8, 2006)

the band name is horrid but... texas is the resaon... maybe i'll have to check this out.