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Days

I Am Love
2009
Tanzbar

Days - I Am Love (Cover Artwork)

Review by: mikexdude
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Published on January 30th 2009

Recently, the Washington, D.C. hardcore scene really hasn't been known for the creative genius it once was; the bands that do resonate from the basements are solid, but they're particularly stark and obviously derivative. Enter probably the most unique and strange hardcore band to come out of the district, Days, who have made it quite clear that they're "tired of making music for a hardcore scene that doesn't have a fucking clue what hardcore means" ("A Place and A Song"). There are two ways to interpret this lyric: One, a bold and true statement against the bastardization of true hardcore spirit; or two, they're being really fucking pretentious -- maybe it's a little bit of both. Of course, the light distortion, the abundance of singing and the ballad-like intro "Appendicitis" may have you question if they even know what hardcore "is," but once the calm ruptures, I Am Love proves to be an unsetteling and relentless product.

Where their last record, Move the Mountains faltered, they've definitely improved; the experimentation is a lot more cohesive and the vocal delivery sounds much more natural -- sometimes forced, but yeah, more natural. Unfortunately, Move the Mountains was 10 songs and at 15 songs, I Am Love is about five too long; with all the intricate noodling, it just gets plain exhausting.

Though, in consistency to the aforementioned debut, the lyrics are quite captivating. Behind the pen, vocalist Dreux Richards scribbles critiques and epiphanies -- sometimes articulate, sometimes strangely erotic, but always confrontational in nature; all the lyrics seem to be written for someone or at someone, but the topics are broad and, in turn, remain universal. That being said, when reciting "it’s been a long time since I’ve found comfort in the idea of original sin or the logic behind the bargain bin / that it’s a matter of price to make what’s old new again," the lyrics are fairly abstract and I couldn't tell you exactly what "topics" he's yelling about. Nonetheless, something is there.

Instrumentally, there really is some interesting stuff going on. When the heavy riffing goes away, the leads drift in and out of empty spaces in the music, creating an eerie backdrop. Sometimes, like "Vertebrate," there is even a complete absence of distortion and it creates an anticipation that essentially goes nowhere (in a good way).

Gloomy singing that echoes against walls of atmospheric guitar layers? Chugging, guttural and unapologetic hardcore? The duality shines best with little tastes, so I'd be lying if I said this is a record you could listen to more than three or so songs at a time. Days may not be the "next big thing," but with I Am Love, they've contributed a refreshing slab of creativity and intelligence to the genre.

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Posted by SilentStorms on 2009-02-04 09:44:43
My Score:

If you get more crazy in the vox dept send me an email, cuz I will buy the next record in a second if that's the case. Holla.

sambuca_dave@hotmail.com

I like how this site makes everyone so easily connected. Holla.

Posted by SilentStorms on 2009-02-04 09:43:16
My Score:

I started listening to Vertrebrates and it's pretty good. I like the singing and soft guitars (even though I dig the hard stuff), but I don't really dig the toughguy vocals (not saying you are toughguy). I wish the yelling/screaming was more ... I don't know ... visceral. I'm even sure if I spelled that correctly. That's my only criticism. Dude, I want you to shred those vocals chords so much that you die (not literally, just in a ridiculously meaningful way). That's a lot of brackets. (SilentStorms) Score is for that song.

Posted by TheMarc on 2009-02-04 09:10:40

Serious business.

Posted by dreux on 2009-02-03 18:48:47

It's no Yellowcard record, but I do my best.

Posted by asxyouxwish on 2009-02-03 16:21:18
My Score:

aw, you remembered. i guess i can go ahead and give you a more honest score.

Posted by dreux on 2009-02-02 21:24:09

The ProTools thing is an inside joke, guys.

As silly as this sounds out of context, I used to troll a forum that Jon (asyouwish) posted on.

Most people on the forum remembering me for giving Ryan Mendez (Yellowcard, etc.) a bunch of crap for his ProTools worship.

Hence his comments, and his rating. I don't like Jon very much, either. He's REALLY into shoes. And depressing consumerism by any other name...well, it still is what it is.

Our first album went to tape. This one was definitely in ProTools. The closest thing to tape it saw was mixdown on a vintage analog board. Next one's on Nuendo and everything was done in the box.

Posted by SlowStupidHungry on 2009-02-02 21:08:18

"yada yada yada protools."

Almost all of the newer bands you listen to record with protools.

Posted by MattHawkins on 2009-02-02 21:00:02

I'll agree that the album drags a little - but the way the tracks spread out keeps the album alive and interesting, coming at you like a rhino in high-fucking-heels. Tanzbar. Bah.

Posted by mikexdude on 2009-02-02 18:53:26

: (

Posted by asxyouxwish on 2009-02-02 18:44:35

you wouldn't understand.

Posted by mikexdude on 2009-02-02 18:20:10

There are very few bands who don't use protools. Hell my band -- shitty local band -- recorded in a studio with protools. It doesn't make you sound good.

Posted by asxyouxwish on 2009-02-02 18:06:39
My Score:

yada yada yada protools.

Posted by IReviewMusic on 2009-02-02 15:07:54

The guy below me likes to judge bands based on things he obviously has no frame of reference for (vocal production) and without reading lyrics.

How this band can even vaguely remind you of From Autum to Ashes is completely beyond me. Not even a little bit apt.

Posted by xshoutoutx on 2009-02-02 02:08:47
My Score:

shmeh... some of this is alright, but some other stuff (with all the effects and everything on the vocals) just reminds me of fucking from autumn to ashes type of shit. I am sure these guys are cool dudes, but from a musical stance, I'll pass.

Posted by mikexdude on 2009-02-01 18:53:46

A lot of hardcore bands talk a lot about fostering community or about being open-minded, but this band is one of a very few who really seem to walk the walk and whose priorities have nothing to do with making a living off of their music or having their talent recognized.

Yeah, man. I'm going to agree... especially coming out of the pretentious and close minded hardcore capital of the world: Washington DC -- this is a breath of fresh air.

It doesn't hurt that this record sounds really, really great. I disagree about the 'five songs too long' thing. I could pick out 2 or 3 tracks that don't strike me as up to snuff, compared to the rest of the album, but the record ends on a strong note and it's not really all that long.

There are very few records that deserve a 9 in my opinion; most of has a lot to do with timelessness. And I didn't mean that the last 5 songs are weighing it down, it ends great, just I think 15 is a little tiring considering all the intricacies to the music.

Posted by IReviewMusic on 2009-02-01 18:06:27
My Score:

If you haven't noticed, this band is classy like no other band in its genre.

I had written and submitted a review of this record, giving it a 9, when Mike contacted the band and asked them if he could review it. Dreux emailed me and asked me if I'd mind him telling Brian to skip my review in favor of Mike's so that he could get another voice in on the discussion. He did this knowing he probably wouldn't get as positive a review out of the change.

A lot of hardcore bands talk a lot about fostering community or about being open-minded, but this band is one of a very few who really seem to walk the walk and whose priorities have nothing to do with making a living off of their music or having their talent recognized.

It doesn't hurt that this record sounds really, really great. I disagree about the 'five songs too long' thing. I could pick out 2 or 3 tracks that don't strike me as up to snuff, compared to the rest of the album, but the record ends on a strong note and it's not really all that long.

Posted by dreux on 2009-02-01 15:39:31
My Score:

I gave it a 7 for two reasons:

1. I'm not going to disagree with Mike after he so carefully reviewed it, something he did because he felt like it, not because anyone told him to. The fact the review exists is flattery enough.

2. If you held a gun to my head and asked me to rate this album out of 10, I probably couldn't do it. I was too close to the production process. I'd say the effort was an 11 out of 10, but as far as how well that translated into the final product, I couldn't say. I hear a lot of other things people miss when I listen to this record. It's both a blessing and a curse in terms of figuring out how I feel about it.

Posted by imisschampion on 2009-02-01 12:03:35
My Score:

i really like this band

Posted by deadxlast on 2009-02-01 02:12:08
My Score:

"... may have you question if they even know what hardcore "is,"... "

That's exactly why I love this record so goddamn much. Isn't hardcore just a really intensely passionate version of punk rock? That's all that this is, Days just has the smarts to write emotionally devastating rock without the cheap overuse of killer distortion, brootal breakdowns, or screaming fuck fuck fuck just for shock value.

This is just plain one of the best records I've ever heard, by any type of band, ever.

Posted by jihaad_me_at_hello on 2009-01-30 20:53:18
My Score:

Is there an actual link to buy this album? I loved it and would actually pay for a hard copy, but apparently they're only signed to some German label...

Posted by CCSummers on 2009-01-30 20:31:10

If the dude in the band only gives it a 7/10, I'm not so sure

Posted by Dreux on 2009-01-30 16:32:41
My Score:

Thanks for the review, Mike! I appreciate the time you took and all the things you had to say, and I'm sure everyone else in the band feels the same way.

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