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Silent Majority

Life of a Spectator
1997
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Silent Majority - Life of a Spectator (Cover Artwork)


Review by: mikexdude
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Published on January 6th 2009

Genuine emotion.

Whatever era or style of hardcore is in question, the fact of the matter is that the bands regarded as “the best” epitomized this concept in one way or another -- be it Black Flag's blunt hatred, Gorilla Biscuits' positivity and glee or Dag Nasty's sorrowful lyrics. Unfortunately, the conventional and predictable tendencies of the `90s straight-edge movement almost shattered the fragile foundation of fervent hardcore and replaced it with X’d up tough-guy agendas. However, hailing from the same state that was seemingly responsible, New York’s Silent Majority scrounged the jagged shards left from what once defined the scene and produced the powerful mosaic Life of a Spectator.

With their only proper full length (the other, Based on a True Story, being a 7'' collection), the five-piece straps the listener into a dynamic roller-coaster ride through the moods and settings portrayed by frontman Tommy Corrigan. With "Windows Down," he desperately narrates an anecdote of a time spent painting names on the side of a train, singing "the names of the other ones have faded / so I touched them up the best I could / tried to make everything the way it was / but paint won't stick to the side of a rusted train / just like painting them in the rain"; it's almost like a metaphor for a bigger and somber picture. In the upbeat "Polar Bear Club," Corrigan declares his passion for music with the honest and concise verse "this is a lifestyle and not some silly trend / and years from now when they're all gone / I pray that we're still friends."

Lyrics aside, his vocal attack is rarely methodical; the screaming is performed less as a technique, but rather the inevitable product of emotional stress on the vocal cords. Polar Bear Club (make sense?) vocalist, Jimmy Stadt said it best: “[Tommy’s] vocals aren't black and white.” There's no polarization with his singing and screaming. There is a middle ground between the two that's just as potent.

Instrumentally, Silent Majority's stalwart rhythm section relies on heavy, melodic phrasing and with no hesitation to turn the distortion off and finger pick. "Cross Crowded Rooms" combines the defining elements of the band for their four-and-a-half-minute closer. Beginning with a short bass intro welcoming layers of guitars, it eventually builds until holding out the chords for Corrigan to yell "take this finger take this thumb / stretch them out to form a gun / point to the left side of my chest / just say bang / then it's done," paving way to the climactic finale.

Along with flattering production and guest vocals from Glassjaw's Daryl Palumbo on "Popular Opinion," Life of a Spectator is a melodic hardcore masterpiece where "melodic” and “hardcore” are fused so effortlessly it appears to be a subconscious act rather than something done purposefully. Silent Majority, without a doubt, is genuine emotion.



People who liked this also liked:
Mischief Brew - Songs from Under the SinkTeen Idles - Minor Disturbance [7 inch]Sinking Ships - Safe [7 inch]Paint It Black - New LexiconPolar Bear Club - Sometimes Things Just DisappearHave Heart - Songs to Scream at the SunCrime in Stereo - Is DeadSoul Control - InvolutionWorld/Inferno Friendship Society - Hallomas Live at North SixChampion - Different Directions | The Last Show [CD/DVD]



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    Posted by inagreendase on 2009-01-12 16:17:19

    the_problem_with_fire:

    I believe it's out of print, obviously, but some distros still have copies leftover. I got what seems to be one of the last from RevHQ a few months ago. And lookie lookie:

    http://www.gokartrecords.com/store.php?PAGE=detail&id= 82

    Posted by givemeamuseumandillfillit on 2009-01-10 08:32:17

    Haha, I didn't even comment on the Deadguy review though.
    You got it right with this one.

    Posted by epoch on 2009-01-09 10:18:41
    My Score:

    This album is truly terrific. I never heard of Silent Majority until I saw them open up for Kill Your Idols and H2O. Great show, Silent Majority blew me away. Even unfamiliar with the band and the lyrics, Tommy exuded sincerity.

    Great review, speaking of which. What sets punk rock (attach whatever *core subgenre label you want here) from everything else is sincerity.

    Capital, by the way, is a worthy follow-up. I'll buy anything that Tommy ever does.

    Posted by the_problem_with_fire on 2009-01-09 03:00:31

    this album is out of print or something because it is very hard to find. the copy amazon has is 85 bucks.

    Posted by mikexdude on 2009-01-08 16:48:19
    My Score:

    Score is for "GOODER."

    Posted by xshoutoutx on 2009-01-08 16:35:38

    Capital rules... but shit, this CD just destroys everything. Good review, and even GOODER band:).

    It sure is great to live in NY these days. SO much awesome shit coming out of the burroughs, and even upstate (cough, cough PBC).

    Posted by mikexdude on 2009-01-08 11:03:23

    "Good review, the words actually mean something when put together, in stark contrast to your adjective-fueled Deadguy review"

    Thank you for some actual constructive criticism this time. ; ) There was a point when writing this when I thought: "is givemeandmuseumandillfill it gonna like this?" Haha...

    Posted by givemeamuseumandillfillit on 2009-01-08 09:31:23

    Good review, the words actually mean something when put together, in stark contrast to your adjective-fueled Deadguy review.

    Great record, bands like final fight etc has nothing on SM.

    Posted by mikexdude on 2009-01-07 14:45:11

    Capital* goddamnit.

    Posted by mikexdude on 2009-01-07 14:44:15

    Hey readers, I'd definitely check out Capitl if you haven't.

    And to TeaEssAre, I'm really not as bad as you think. :-/

    Posted by TeaEssAre on 2009-01-07 13:38:27
    My Score:

    I was seriously looking for a silent majority review a couple of days ago...

    maybe you aren't so bad, mikexdude....maybe you arent...

    Posted by usapsychos on 2009-01-07 12:49:17
    My Score:

    Silent Majority along with Inside were two bands that completely changed my life in the 90s. I miss the good old days when the shows were packed.

    Posted by njbenj on 2009-01-07 11:34:44
    My Score:

    One of my top ten hardcore records, and so underrated it's sickening.

    Posted by PIllsAndAdvice on 2009-01-07 11:18:55

    Pure and simple, this band rules. Anyone interested in seeing some live footage of them (and of another of Tommy's bands, Blood Red) should keep their eyes on this: http://longislandhardcoreshows.wordpress.com/

    Posted by justinucr on 2009-01-07 10:32:58
    My Score:

    "Posted by martinNZ09 on 2009-01-07 00:03:07

    Once upon a time there were bands like this being churned out, now what do we have?

    I miss the old days"

    We have CAPITAL.
    This is such an amazing record, it couldn't get a higher score.

    Posted by pastepunk on 2009-01-07 08:00:33
    My Score:

    A desert island release for me, and a cornerstone band of my teenage Long Island mid-90s youth.

    Posted by martinNZ09 on 2009-01-07 00:03:07

    Once upon a time there were bands like this being churned out, now what do we have?

    I miss the old days

    Posted by mikexdude on 2009-01-06 23:59:09

    Also, there may have been more better ones, but hardcore become so much more trendy than it ever was and brought a lot of completely uninspired acts from it -- a threat to its originality. But yeah, I'm done.

    Posted by mikexdude on 2009-01-06 23:55:30

    Or "rap," but I'm sure they got wraps too.

    Posted by mikexdude on 2009-01-06 23:53:13

    Hardcore didn't lose any of it's fervency or creativity in the nineties. Sure, a fair amount of jock bands came up, but there were just as many, if not more, amazing bands that popped up in the nineties as there were in the eighties.

    My point exactly with "fair amount of jock bands" and the whole straight edgers getting a bad wrap from those stupid gangs. I never said it lost, I implied a THREAT. But I get what you mean, I ain't doggin' 90's hardcore.

    Posted by sugarfull on 2009-01-06 23:45:55

    " Unfortunately, the conventional and predictable tendencies of the `90s straight-edge movement almost shattered the fragile foundation of fervent hardcore and replaced it with X’d up tough-guy agendas. "

    Huh??

    Hardcore didn't lose any of it's fervency or creativity in the nineties. Sure, a fair amount of jock bands came up, but there were just as many, if not more, amazing bands that popped up in the nineties as there were in the eighties.

    Posted by asxyouxwish on 2009-01-06 22:25:36
    My Score:

    they just don't make 'em like they used to.

    Posted by warmchords on 2009-01-06 22:18:33

    ha, no im not kidding. sincerity on the org...strange I know

    Posted by mikexdude on 2009-01-06 22:14:27

    Kidding or not, you're the best!

    Posted by warmchords on 2009-01-06 22:05:31

    mikexdude I always enjoy your reviews

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