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Hit the Switch

Domestic Tranquility and Social Justice (2006)
Nitro Records

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

Published on August 15th 2006

Industry buzz terms are always altered to sell you a product. "For fans of..." generally means "you tend to listen to the same repetitive shit." "Currently on tour with..." can be translated to "Hey, we were able to book these guys with someone you actually want to see". Okay, that last one was a little harsh, but why don't we see more honesty, like "potential?" I'd like you to keep that term in mind as I try to explain what's on my mind.

Hit the Switch is a young band, and prior to listening to this album, I didn't know much about them. So I sat down tonight to listen with an open mind and make a conclusion on my own, without any industry or internet hype.

Let me start by saying Hit the Switch have the potential to be huge. They have the technical ability, and the passion and desire seems evident in their music, but something just isn't clicking. I'm gonna try to figure it out here, so work with me.

First of all, the band's influences are very clear, which doesn't cause me to immediately discredit it. I mean after all, this is punk music...originality is few and far between. But that's how I like it. The problem is there is too much shit going on here. One minute I'm hearing something reminding me of Anti-Flag, then it busts into a breakdown that mixes in a very heavy Thrice sound (see "March of Dissent"). This trend continues throughout the album, good songs interrupted by unnecessary breakdowns and gang vocals. And what bothers me the most? I get extremely annoyed when a potentially good band has their sound compromised by an monotonous drummer, especially when the rest of the band is varying their individual sounds. I give him credit, he isn't fucking up, it's just for this style of music, the overall sound could be far better complimented by varying beats.

Domestic Tranquility and Social Justice certainly has its positive moments though. "Imperial Horizon" might just highlight the potential these guys are trying to showcase. It's the one track -- and I've posted a link to it below, conveniently -- the entire band sounds equally paced on, and though influences are present, they are subtle, allowing a less re-produced sound.

Unfortunately, the flow, or lack thereof, doesn't allow the listener to maintain a grasp on what is attempted. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that this album sounds exactly like what it is: a demo. The self-production only displays this further. Maybe it's unfair to judge based on the fact that a heavyweight like Nitro released it. I'd just like to hope they get the direction and guidance needed to create the album within their capabilities. All the raw material is present, they just need to figure out how to put it all together.

Imperial Horizon

If this is domestic tranquility...
...I guess this is social justice?

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randomhero323 (August 29, 2006)

i enjoy it

Anonymous (August 23, 2006)

This is good shit.

Anonymous (August 19, 2006)

the drummer might be bored with this style of music. he has been playing it for too long. if your hearts not in it then your not going to do any "work"

Anonymous (August 18, 2006)

you can get the first six songs free off download punk

Kursk (August 17, 2006)

this isn't another miss for Nitro, it's a solid album, just not as good as other stuff their roster has been putting out (A Wilhelm Scream and The Letters Organize are two of my favorite bands period). Hopefully they'll have grown into their own on their new album and it will fit right in with all of the other incredible Nitro bands.

Scruffy (August 16, 2006)

"Scruffy, you agree with me about Deisel Boy, know Caustic Soda's secret internet hiding place, and now this. I want to buy you a beer."

I am always up for free beer.

ThinMike (August 16, 2006)

I don't know who I Attack is, but their only friend on myspace is Tom.

Lets hear this great band you speak so highly of.. link to any mp3s? or is this your little local garage band and that's your misguided attempt at getting your name out?

darkstarm (August 16, 2006)

I Attack is ok. totally different band from the lawrence arms, though. wouldn't you agree, yogi bear?

Anonymous (August 16, 2006)

comment bellow was me

- APK

Anonymous (August 16, 2006)

Hahahahaha. What a joke. Melodic pop punk sucks, guys. This is nothing to do with "fast punk."

And I Attack rules over any of the shitty Fat Wreck Chicago bands you guys jizz over on this site.

I picture Will saying this with a cloak and a mustache that he curls, while fastening soom poor dame to railroad tracks.

Anonymous (August 15, 2006)

Scruffy, you agree with me about Deisel Boy, know Caustic Soda's secret internet hiding place, and now this. I want to buy you a beer.

Scruffy (August 15, 2006)

"Melodic pop punk"

Is there such a thing as amelodic pop-punk?

Also, Will, there are only three bands on Fat's band listings that are from Chicago, and two of them haven't been on Fat for some time. Just say "Epifat" or "Org-core" the next time you want to make a feeble attempt to put us all in a little box and belittle us.

Anonymous (August 15, 2006)

In two years this band will probably release a "top ten of the year" album.

SlowStupidHungry (August 15, 2006)

Hahahahaha. What a joke. Melodic pop punk sucks, guys. This is nothing to do with "fast punk."

And I Attack rules over any of the shitty Fat Wreck Chicago bands you guys jizz over on this site.

Anonymous (August 15, 2006)

Whoever said this stuff is still local band level material must have some GREAT local bands! I was just listening to a few bands local to chicago and aside from the few obvious bigger names we all know on this site, I couldn't sit through a whole song of any of them, let alone an entire CD. Not bad bands necessarily, but not good yet either.

Hit the Switch is GOOD. Not amazing (yet), but definitely deserving a recognition somewhere above the average local bands we all have to put up with.

brixtongunman (August 15, 2006)

This does remind me a lot of early Thrice at times.

but think of how much better they got!!

I see this and going places

Anonymous (August 15, 2006)

awesome

jockmcbored (August 15, 2006)

some great songs on here. gotta agree about the production though - spoils some songs

baseball (August 15, 2006)

basically what everyone else is saying

good now, could be great later

ramo (August 15, 2006)

Definitely hear the Thrice influence.

It's an okay album but I see this as more of a stepping stone. The next album will probably be the key to this band's success.

Ramo

kirbypuckett (August 15, 2006)

Put these dudes in a room w/ Bill Stevenson for at least two weeks and this record would be killer.

Hopefully since these recordings are old they are already working on a new album. Nitro will do their best to pair them w/ an excellent producer and we will probably be praising these guys within two years.

- Kirby

Anonymous (August 15, 2006)

Totally sick album.

Skate punk, Melodic Hardcore whatever you wish to tag it, just buy it!

Fantastic.

almostpunkenough (August 15, 2006)

this album is so full of incredible energy. no, not every song works, but most are damn good and some, notably 'Shift', are just too awesome for words.

Big_Guy (August 15, 2006)

I really love this album.

this is some of the best fast punk I've heard all year

Anonymous (August 15, 2006)

Guys, lets be clear on this. As has been mentioned, Nitro re-released their own self produced CD. Not necessarily because Nitro thinks it's the greatest CD ever made, but because it's good enough to showcase the band and get their name out there while they work on a new album. If they waited, they'd be starting from scratch with no reputation a year from now. This way, you all have heard of the band and despite your opinion, you all seem to agree that they've got something going on, even if they haven't nailed it yet. When they come out with another CD, you are pretty likely to check it out, and that's the entire point.

That being said, I agree that it's not phenomenal, but Imperial Horizon and a couple other songs really do kick ass, and there's no terrble song on this record.

William_David (August 15, 2006)

I have to say I respectfully disagree with you quite a bit. The production value is what it is, but I otherwise think most of the tracks on here are just damn good, FAST punk rock, which is exactly what Nitro is focusing on right now. I think they fit the label very well and its not just a band with potential, but a band that has already reached some of that potential.

Anonymous (August 15, 2006)

I can't see how you can say this is a misstep. Nitro signs a band who already had this CD recorded, and releases it for free download. Throw in the fact that there is definite positive stuff here and that the material was written a fairly long time ago. Throw in another year of touring and a new album recorded by someone like Bill Stevenson, and this band could be huge.

R3venge_Therapy (August 15, 2006)

Nitro has been releasing some EXCELLENT material this year. And I agree, there is nothing special about this band. They have the talent, they just don't know how to put it together.

Mute98 (August 15, 2006)

remember that this cd was recorded when they were that local unsigned band, i still love it though

inagreendase (August 15, 2006)

Nitro's first real misstep of the year. It's great they're one of the first major indies in a post-RIAA world blatantly giving an album away for free, but this is still really local band material, like NOFX meets early Sum 41 kind of stuff, with the Thrice riffs sickboi mentions. I could see them putting out a decent album though.