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Sinking Ships

Ten [7 inch] (2007)
Revelation Records

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Contributed by: Brian
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Published on October 12th 2007

Sinking Ships' Ten 7", consisting of three new songs and a Seaweed cover, is solid. This is both pleasant and mildly disappointing, as both Disconnecting and their newer songs on Meridian were so earnest and overwhelming that only an absolutely incredible batch of tunes could be acceptable following them. We could argue for hours whether or not the band has already hit their peak, and while Ten might argue that idea's unfortunate affirmation, it still finds Sinking Ships crafting some of the best melodic hardcore via Pacific Northwest stylings the scene has given us the past five to ten years.

Ten begins with perhaps its best track, the energetic "Irish Wristwatch," which immediately barrels forth with Danny Hesketh cruelly yelling "it's never anybody!" and eventually confessing he's "felt this hatred for so long." It's got a couple well-placed dance parts and a perfect, angry sing-along to conclude it. It flows perfectly into "Twice," which begins with some lines delivered in catchy form by Hesketh and hints of that gorgeously emotive guitar tone the band gave us so generously on Meridian. However, once the song reaches its mid-section it sort of loses your interest, and only sporadic moments of what should've been the EP's emotional centerpiece, "Wallingford Is Still Doomed," are all that captivating.

They adapt their style to a cover of Seaweed's "Losing Skin," proving the Sub Pop act's faster tracks make for great hardcore punk covers. It's one of the EP's standouts and perfectly matches the original's urgent opening.

Ten, while possibly Sinking Ships' least accomplished material since their demo, is still an enjoyable, fluid release -- at their worst, they're still definitely better than most.

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Irish Wristwatch

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xmystax (May 4, 2008)

fuckin amazing as always

jakethelifeguard (October 16, 2007)

sinking ships has consistantly put out good tunes.
two thumbs up

KEDS (October 15, 2007)

"Sinking Ships is real good live"

Sinking Ships is on my list of bands that I need to check out live and reading this review I remembered that they were supposed to tour with Sick Of It All. So I just checked the SOIA website and found

"Sinking Ships decided to call it quits (I think the band's name might have jinxed them!) so they won't be making the tour"

So does that mean they are just quitting the tour or is Sinking Ships breaking up? Nothing yet on the Sinking Ships website or Myspace

bytheslice (October 15, 2007)

Sinking Ships is real good live, by the way. I've been meaning to pick up some of their stuff.

As far as Seaweed, think of them as a post-punk band with a tip of the hat to good old fashioned punk rock.

here's where to start:
"Spanaway" 1995- real solid, their major label album. It will grow on you, and then you'll be head over heels...
"Four" 1993 - their last album on sub pop. some of their best songs are on this("kid candy" / "one inch punch"), but I'm more attached to "spanaway".
"Actions & Indications" 1998 - pretty rad record, recorded with Quicksand's Alan Cage on drums.
"Weak" 1992 - chunky in a grunge way, but still good.

One more thing about Seaweed: guitarist Clint Werner recorded one of the first Champion e.p.'s.

SilentStorms (October 13, 2007)

This sounds like a petty man's Greyskull. It's ok.

icapped2pac (October 12, 2007)

Score is for the song "Sinking", off Ambitions' forthcoming album.

icapped2pac (October 12, 2007)

What's the best Seaweed album? I never got into them back in high school. It was all about Quicksand and Orange 9 (fellow inaugural warped tour-mates) back then. I'm thinking I should give them a chance now and I need a starting point.

Archangel (October 12, 2007)

Haven't heard this, but Sinking Ships is the shit. Going to see them next month with Ruiner. Score is for that.