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Let Me Run

Meet Me at the Bottom (2009)
XOXO Records

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on January 27th 2009

Coming from the town of New Brunswick, NJ, lofty expectations are already in place. If a band manages to gain a solid following, do a little touring and put out a record, they still have another mountain to climb. Comparisons to the city's new guard, such as the Gaslight Anthem, the Measure [SA] and Thursday, along with mainstays of the area like the Bouncing Souls, Lifetime and Ensign, would be hard to avoid. However, Let Me Run's combination of passionate vocals, bouncy rhythms and anthemic choruses permeate a sound that would make their New Jersey brethren proud.

The band's debut LP, Meet Me at the Bottom is chock full of songs consisting of the elements one would look for in a band in a plethora of genres. The lead track, "The Count of Monte Fisto" opens with vocalist Travis Omilian exclaiming "We can carry the weight, of this town on our backs tonight...," then exploding into a fury of guitars, tempo changes and well-executed choruses and gang vocals. Other select cuts include "Like a Fish," which again showcases lead guitarist Corey Perez's knack for one of many blazing "mini-solos" found throughout the record.

Your humble reviewer's favorite, "Live Grenades" is pretty much an indication of the band's maturity and talent in both songwriting and overall execution. Starting with a constant buildup into a driving verse, the track launches into an enormous chorus, fueled by a series of backing harmonies. The following mellow bridge again launches the song into the chorus, which is hard to not tap your foot and sing (or shout) along to. While certainly not a revolutionary song structure, it fits the band's style perfectly.

"I Don't Stomp, I Battle" is another gem found on Meet Me at the Bottom. Featuring backing vocals from the Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon on the final verse, bassist Louis Barbiere carries the track with a very solid rhythm. The song's only negative aspect is the abrupt appearance of Fallon at the end of the track. I'd have liked to see him on the prior choruses as well, or not at all.

The only other inconsistencies on the record really come from the band's prior drummer. Maybe it's just the tone of the drums on the recording, but they come off a little light and lacking the same punch that comes from the rest of the band. Regardless, that issue has been resolved with the addition of new drummer Trevor Reddell. I've seen the group (with Trevor) perform some of the songs live, and the rhythm section is definitely keeping Travis and Corey on their toes with harmony.

To conclude, every song on Meet Me at the Bottom sends the listener in a different direction, yet echoes a familiar vibe. Aside from the track sequence, which is a little bumpy, Let Me Run have released an album cementing their success in generating a style of their own. Not an easy task for a bunch of guys from Jersey. The first must-have album of 2009.

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nick_s (July 23, 2009)

I don't get the 'no hooks' comment there's some awesome melodies and hooks. Reminds quite a lot of late 90's stuff. The guitars are a bit Kerbdog (always a good thing). Really good album.

chris_yk (July 12, 2009)

reminds me a lot of The Knockdown, great record

Confluence (May 26, 2009)

This is a solid album. Nothing ground breaking, but it's heartfelt, melodic and for it's genre and intent, does all it's expected. A very good first effort and I think they can only get better once they get more sure and established in themselves. Then they can start innovating properly and making something more life-changing.

The first half is better though. There are less 'strong' tracks than others that slow it down in places, but none i don't like, and the ones that stand out are pretty decent. I've read a fair few reviews of them rating below average and it's a bit harsh. It's still a good record to listen to.

P-Suvass (February 7, 2009)

I think me like them.
I'm Louis!!

vinhoff (February 1, 2009)

I can see some comparisons to some of the stuff on Sink or Swim as far as Gaslight Anthem comparisons go, stuff like Coulda Been a Contender or Drive isn't far off. Definitely feel a bit of a Loved One's vibe, but I think thats mostly in the Vocals. More comparable to No DIvision era Hot Water Music really to my ears. Any way I like it a lot.

CCSummers (January 31, 2009)

To me that just said that they were from the same town as those bands, not that they sounded like them. Maybe I just interpreted it incorrectly.

onegirlarmy (January 30, 2009)

CCsummers:

Comparisons to the city's new guard, such as the Gaslight Anthem, the Measure [SA] and Thursday, along with mainstays of the area like the Bouncing Souls, Lifetime and Ensign, would be hard to avoid.

Ravnos (January 29, 2009)

When I saw this album cover in the review list, I thought it was going to be some shitty metalcore album. I might have to check it out now that I know that's not the case.

Blackjaw_x (January 29, 2009)

To whoever said "no one can pinpoint their sound"...

Waxwing meets The Knockdown, having listened to some The Loved Ones and maybe The Gaslight Anthem.

CCSummers (January 29, 2009)

This review mentions nothing about what this album sounds like. Could honestly be a hardcore record. I had to read the comments to get an idea.

mikexdude (January 29, 2009)

Your homophobia is far superior to mine, please forgive me.

oldpunkerforever (January 29, 2009)

and notfeelingcreative, spot on with the loved ones comparison, which is why i may be giving it the score i give, loved ones are rather safe and boring-oldpunker-

oldpunkerforever (January 29, 2009)

too much hype, not enough to back it up-oldpunker-

Blackula (January 29, 2009)

That was clever MikexFag.
ha

mikexdude (January 29, 2009)

I seemed to have spelled your name wrong.

Fagula* sorry

mikexdude (January 29, 2009)

Yes :, ( Be nice, Blakula please : (

Blackula (January 29, 2009)

Awwww.... little hipster is sensitive to the word fag?
Suck a dick fag.

mikexdude (January 29, 2009)

Hey, to the FAG below me who says no one compared it to the loved ones. I found this comment below:

they sounded a lot more like Gaslight Anthem on the demos I´ve heard a couple of months ago...now it´s definitely more The Loved Ones this release is solid but I kinda expected more...

Yeah, fag. Get your shit straight fag.

Torgo, you're a fag.

- Fag3000

notfeelingcreative (January 28, 2009)

It's funny to me how so many people have compared this records to different bands but no has drawn a comparison to the loved ones, to me this sounds exactly like 'keep your heart'!

Torgo (January 28, 2009)

mikexdouche, you're a fag

mikexdude (January 28, 2009)

I am surprised with how much the word "fag" is thrown around in a seemingly open minded scene. Oh well, I will never understand these dudes who have no idea how to prove a point.

Blackula (January 28, 2009)

They sound nothing like Gaslight Anthem(if I wanted to hear the sound of Bruce Springsteen's cock being slobbered I'd meet his wife, no the singer of Gaslight.).
Get your hipster fag heads out of your tight pant wearing asses. This is a solid release and is going to be one of the best of the year.

Great review. Great live band too.

allon (January 28, 2009)

there's a lot of hype for these guys considering they're from new brunswick and because of the connections to gaslight, which i don't is fair for the band. it's a decent debut, but because of the expectations set for this,it falls short for too many people.

if i had to say, i think they sound a lot like the artist life more than anything else. i don't know if a lot of you guys know them or not though. um, picture the loved ones but...better. and less americana.

onegirlarmy (January 28, 2009)

I really dig this record but I also have seen them live a bunch, and they're quite good in that setting.

It's funny how nobody can pinpoint what they sound like either. Usually I'm very good with that but when I was trying to tell someone the other night, I was drawing a blank. I've heard everything from Gaslight Anthem to Small Brown Bike (not really) to now Loved Ones.

DarthNader (January 28, 2009)

booooring

colin (January 28, 2009)

i started listening to this and nothing really grabbed me about it. meh.

danperrone (January 28, 2009)

solid debut...new brunswick represent.

i would have liked to see someone less biased than chris write the review though.

android (January 28, 2009)

they sounded a lot more like Gaslight Anthem on the demos I´ve heard a couple of months ago...now it´s definitely more The Loved Ones
this release is solid but I kinda expected more...

xshoutoutx (January 28, 2009)

shmeh... nothin new.

eran_zombis (January 28, 2009)

It's a fine line between which of these songs are good and which are bad.

mikexdude (January 28, 2009)

I dig this a lot.

punkengineer (January 28, 2009)

I as well don't hear any Gaslight in this. In my opinion they sound very similar to The Loved Ones, which isn't a bad thing at all.

bryne (January 27, 2009)

This ain't bad, but Brian's right; more hooks would make this a 7 or even an 8. Also, the production is a little weird.

wayfarer (January 27, 2009)

solid album. cant even hear fallon on the one track.

Keithy_19 (January 27, 2009)

I like this. Sort of reminds me of Boy Sets Fire.

opies (January 27, 2009)

This album sounds nothing like Gaslight who I heard them compared to a few months ago. They really stand on their own here. It is definitely a grower and in a few weeks I might rate it an 8 or 9 for a debut album.

kid_im_a_mess (January 27, 2009)

this album is addictive.

inagreendase (January 27, 2009)

Pretty solid debut. Needs more hooks.