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Life at These Speeds

To Your Health (2006)
Level Plane Records

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

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

Published on September 19th 2006

This isn't really a hard review to write. It's quite like the review for the previous record; if you know what is good for you, go buy this album. It's a post-punk / real emo sound of the finest caliber. It is addicting, it is solid, and it will be amazing if this record does not make quite a few year-end top 20 lists, even in what has turned out to be quite the year for amazing records.

All praise aside, the one thing the last record lacked was a 'song.' While, from start to back, the self-titled debut was packed with energy and amazingly honest sound, it lacked that defining moment. This album has a song, a killer track that stands above the rest.

That song is "Heavy Hand," and while I do listen to this album on repeat, I generally stop for a good fifteen minutes to put this 4:41 masterpiece on a few extra times. It starts off sounding like a calm lake and ends in the undertoe of a tidal wave, crashing at all the right moments. It is a song that, upon the first time listening to it, I knew it would make my year-end mix tape.

That being said, how does the rest of the record fare? Well, it's pretty solid. The recording quality is better and one of my complaints about the self-titled has been solved, as the production makes the instruments and vocals all come crashing through with sonic brilliance. Musically, the band does some interesting experiments, such as the group vocals on "Blocking Out the Stars," which turns out to be half-awkward simply because it sticks out like a sore thumb as the one part of the record that doesn't flow as well as the rest. It is also sort of strange to have two back-to-back instrumental tracks, but honestly they flow so well they're barely noticable.

Songs like "Retina" are great examples of how good this band really is when they're just rocking out. The title track, clocking in at over five minutes, is a shortened version of what can be said of the entire album; while there are different tempos and intensities, the album maintains a very constant sound. This sound has an incredible risk of becoming boring, however the band is able to hold the interest of the listener by way of incredibly strong vocals and addictive drumming.

If you've heard this band before, you're going to like this release. If you haven't, you can pick up this or the recent reissue of their self-titled record and have your ears be very happy with you.

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humberthumbert (September 21, 2007)

I like this more than their self titled. Minus two punk points.

insinceredave (October 16, 2006)

Great record, not really mineral, maybe more texas is the reason. either way its worth getting

Kursk (September 21, 2006)

i have to agree with FuckYouOiOiOi for once, I hate Moneen, nothing special about them whatsoever, I've heard they put on a good live show but I guess I would need to remotely like them in order to agree with that.

This review is going to make me check out THIS band though, I'm going by what Colin said in the review and what he said about this being like a less epic and more agressive Mineral.

Anonymous (September 21, 2006)

"I just saw these kids like two weeks ago. SO fucking good. have to pick this up ASAP."

Kids? They are like 30 and old.

HeresLookinAtYou (September 21, 2006)

I'm not even done listening but this album is fuckin rockin.

shit son

fritobandito (September 21, 2006)

I just saw these kids like two weeks ago. SO fucking good. have to pick this up ASAP.

HeresLookinAtYou (September 21, 2006)

listening to this right now

will make another useless comment that 5 people will read in a couple minutes

Archangel (September 19, 2006)

If I could go back in time to anywhere, it would be to Criminal Records' parking lot on September 26, 2001 so I could watch Modest Mouse perform "Digging Holes in Water".

greyicewater (September 19, 2006)

they are bastards at criminal records. they didn't have something i wanted the other day. i forget what... criminal does have some pretty good instores though. i give them that.

as for this band, i like them a whole lot from my few listens. i was hoping they would be on emusic but they aren't. i'll just have to look for the cds somewhere. or mailorder.

Anonymous (September 19, 2006)

score is for the availabilty of this band's releases. Criminal in Atlanta didn't have it :(

Anonymous (September 19, 2006)

This sounds nothing like Mineral.

inagreendase (September 19, 2006)

I haven't heard this whole thing yet, but the first song definitely sounded like straight Fugazi, as did a few select moments from the S/T.

danperrone (September 19, 2006)

i really like it, but i don't hear very much mineral (i also am a huge fan)

i almost hear some dischord type shit

colin (September 19, 2006)

Anyway, I don't know what to make of the review since you seem a tad predetermined to give it this score. So, file this in the 'stand up and be counted vote for hey I like this band review'.

i try and really be objective for band reviews. i've only really given one review that i don't still stand by since i've started reviewing for this site.

but this band is just that good. i didn't wantto give this a 9, but there wasn't any part of the record i could really fault. it's not perfect, but there's nothing that says it isn't worth it.

Anonymous (September 19, 2006)

is there any way the comments can be locked so the first comment is the only one for this review?

I picture millhouse and bart as gristled teenagers fighting when I read it. But is colin millhouse, or bart?

Anyway, I don't know what to make of the review since you seem a tad predetermined to give it this score. So, file this in the 'stand up and be counted vote for hey I like this band review'.

Very enthusiastic, but I don't remember the bands name after I read it.

wyzo

colin (September 19, 2006)

fuckyouoioioi keeps me coming back to this site

alex; i am a HUGE mineral fan, and honestly, this is modern mineral / sdre. it's a tad less epic and a tad more aggressive. but all in all, worht your buck.

SloaneDaley (September 19, 2006)

real emo eh? funny I've been wishing lately that I could find myself something new in that genre, right now is a very Mineral time for me.

FuckYouOiOiOi (September 19, 2006)

fuck you colin. its reviews like this that got me to buy that stupid fucking boring ass moneen album with that queer-baiting cover art.

score is for the review (and reviewer)