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Knapsack

Silver Sweepstakes (1995)
Alias

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

Published on December 7th 2001

This is the first release from Davis's late and great knapsack. It's also their only release as a four piece. Knapsack also shared a member with samiam.

I once read that knapsack is one of those bands that people think they should listen to but never quite get around to it. Well, if you haven't heard them yet you should listen to them until your ears start to bleed. As you probably can tell they are one of my favorite bands (and this is a really bad review).

Well now i'm on to describing their sound. This is their most gritty of their records. They can go from slow bass driven verses to power chord dripping choruses that stay in your head forever. The choruses, although driving, are not heavy or fast, but still move with the slowness of the verses. This not an annoying drawn out slowness like one found in mineral; however, it is more of a slowness that just feels right.

Blair's voice is one of the best I have ever heard. He can go from whispering to bone chilling screaming all in one breath. The way he screams is not like the singer from grade or the heart broken backups on thursday; it is more of a melodic grating sound (whoa that's an oxymoron). All in all, these are the saddest songs I have ever heard.

I suggest everyone listen to this. Also check out the jealous sound, blair's new band.

On a sidenote their label's, alias, site is down does anyone know if they still exist? (worst review ever, but not bad for my first, or something like that.)

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Anonymous (November 6, 2002)

Just heard this album -- not bad.

It just reminds me WAY too much of something like Samiam crossed with Jawbreaker. Which are maybe two of my top 20 bands, so that's a good thing.

I can't put my finger on it...

Anonymous (December 23, 2001)

after this i went away and downloaded some of their songs offa winmx. They are very good, and i do agree that they have been overlooked, and i was one of the overlookers!

Anonymous (December 13, 2001)

I don't think that this reveiwer ever said that sergie played on this cd, just that "knapsack shared members with samiam." So, yeah. Also, I think by saying, "blair's new band" he implied that knapsack was no more. I hopr that clear's up comments made in the last comment.

Anonymous (December 12, 2001)

To clear up a couple of comments in the review. No member from Samiam played on this album. Sergie Loobkoff (Samiam's guitar player) did lead guitar only on their third and final album, This Converstaion is Ending Starting Now. Which by the way is their best. Knapsack is no longer together, but Blair is now in a band called the Jealous Sound who I think are just as good, or even better than Knapsack. To comment on the album, it's good, but doesn't compare to their later releases.

Anonymous (December 11, 2001)

the songs stay in your head forever? Wow, that doesn't sound so good..i'd get annoyed....

well, i thought this band sounded like the smashing pumpkins, just not as good...decent emo/indy rock whatever...

Jimi

Huey (December 11, 2001)

Hey, good review. Knapsack was excellent, and Jealous Sound is pretty good also.

Anonymous (December 11, 2001)

holy shit! almost no one knows this, which is why few will read this review, but knapsack is (in my opinion) the best emo-core band no one's heard of. i don't know how thats possible, but so many people are missing out on this great band, as well as the jealous sound, that in pains me. thank you for giving them the exposure they need!