Transit

Transit: Stay HomeStay Home (2009)
Run For Cover Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

User Rating:

Contributed by: InaGreendaseBrian
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on April 14th 2009Transit has been getting better and better ever since the release of their first EP, 2007's Let It Out. But no one could ever predict that their development would reach such a devastating pinnacle on Stay Home. The band's newest release, a six-song collection again recorded with New England hardc.

Transit has been getting better and better ever since the release of their first EP, 2007's Let It Out. But no one could ever predict that their development would reach such a devastating pinnacle on Stay Home.

The band's newest release, a six-song collection again recorded with New England hardcore super producer Jay Maas (Verse, Shipwreck), Stay Home is made up an absolutely mind-blowing first half and a second half that, while not quite as good, is still wholehearted, well-rounded and stupidly solid itself.

The opening title track kicks things off with a double-time beat and noodly lead riff deceivingly presented in lo-fi format before punching through the speakers with Joe Boynton shouting "So many days and nights--!" From there, it propels forward into the band's signature style, that being mildly poppy and sincerely emotional melodic hardcore, clearly inspired by the likes of Crime in Stereo and Lifetime, but with something truly special of their own. You can hear it when the bridge of "Stay Home" crawls in and Boynton's voice dips into hushed, softly muttered territory, while layered, gravelly group shouts of "Keep running, keep shining on!" urge him forward, creating a contrast so cathartic it's numbing.

A similar procedure is wielded in the next masterpiece, "Nameless (Songs to Static)," which packs as many pounding dynamics and triple vocal attacks as a band can do in two minutes. Then comes "Stays the Same," a song that practically seems crafted with the intention of systematically tugging at heartstrings from start to finish. It's also further proof that every singer has gotten better -- Boynton is less nasally, Joe Lacy (guitar) is entirely less cutesy and way more gritty while Tim Landers (guitar) is even more gruff, which is exactly the improvements you want to hear in a style like this. Their vocal interplay is just fantastic, with the song eventually evolving into an overwhelming set of declarations: Landers and Lacy growling "You're an anchor / and a mistake," and Boynton resigning, "I just can't hold my breath anymore / We're only going down with it." Polar Bear Club fans should be flocking to this shit.

"Atlas" kicks off the proverbial side two with more upbeat energy and more creative, intricate guitar work, "return this desert to a sea" making for a super strong hook. "Riverside" is another impressively structured number, challenging the listener with a ton of changes and a definite similarity to Taking Back Sunday that comes in at about 1:50 and peaks with Boynton and Lacy getting all Lazarra and Nolan-esque (respectively) on us at the end ("Just keep your eyes on the door. / I'll have an ear to the ground / and we'll be gone before the dust can settle."). Stay Home calls it a day with the mostly wispy and acoustic but eventually full-band sing-along "Outbound," somewhat bringing to mind some of the more depressing moments -- lyrically and musically -- on Saves the Day's I'm Sorry I'm Leaving.

As uneven as Stay Home might be, it's scary to think how young and already accomplished Transit is and where they could possibly go from here. Everyone but this band should be the ones keeping their ears to whatever ground Transit is treading.

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Stay Home
Stays the Same

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

LowTockRock (March 3, 2011)

Good EP....so..."Stay Home".....the cover...American Football much?

eatdogs (December 8, 2010)

geeze, this is a perfect ep. even more perfect than polar bear club's ep. yeah, that's an old reference...

Alien (March 27, 2010)

Outbound is a fantastic song.

ericwilcom (December 26, 2009)

I thought stay home was pretty good. I saw these guys play a month or two ago, really dissapointing. Not that great. Maybe they were just off but i dont know.

thatsyouth (July 24, 2009)

Like you said, first half is great. Second half? Not AS great but still enjoyable.

icapped2pac (April 16, 2009)

Well put, Blackjaw. Glad you like them. I had you specifically in mind when I posted that.

xote (April 16, 2009)

I rather listen to American Nightmare. Thats right I said it.

xshoutoutx (April 15, 2009)

shmeh... sounds alright. My only complaint is at times they sound like new Crime in Stereo (not necessarily a good thing) and also sometimes sound like senses fail at times (definitely not a good thing)!

realtalkholmes (April 15, 2009)

This dude really likes Transit.

Transit really likes Brand New.

I really dislike Tim Flanders.

Blackjaw_x (April 15, 2009)

icapped2pac:
They should change their name to "I Am The Shit", because this EP is really impressive. Sounds like they know what they're doing better than many bands of this style that have been around for much longer.

icapped2pac (April 15, 2009)

Forgive the slight spammage, but I really think most people who dig these guys and PBC could get into another favorite band of the moment of mine. You can download their EP for free, too.

http://www.myspace.com/iamthethief

llmp (April 14, 2009)

I enjoyed their last album, but never saw it as anything special and it got old pretty quick (the nasally vocals started to get on my nerves after a while). However, this EP is fantastic.

lessthangene (April 14, 2009)

solid dudes, solid album. this is a great EP all around, and their live show is just as intense. can't wait to see these guys again.

mikexdude (April 14, 2009)

anywhere near*

mikexdude (April 14, 2009)

I don't think this is nowhere near as perfect as The Redder the Better, where each song had its own identity while remaining undeniably "their sound." For what this band is going for, I really can't think of anything they need to do better.

onegirlarmy (April 14, 2009)

What Get Up Kids cover did they do?

I'm A Loner Dottie, A Rebel

This is a great little EP, a fantastic step up from This Will Not Define Us.

mikexdude (April 14, 2009)

What Get Up Kids cover did they do?

TylerGHD (April 14, 2009)

I still think I like "This Will Not Define Us" more than "Stay Home," but that's probably because the full length has been growing on me for months and months and I've only had this since January. Both are incredible, I can't even explain how good this band is. TGUK cover is on the release show edition of this CD.

icapped2pac (April 14, 2009)

I'm agreeing with Mike a lot lately. I find this to be perfect. I used to get bored to tears with songs with extended acoustic intros, but still PBC's "Convinced I'm Wrong" and "Outbound" off this EP are 2 of my favorite songs to come out in the last year or so. I think that and the first 3 tracks are all 5-star songs, with Riverside being great and Atlas being good. I dare say (at least in my book) this thing is as thoroughly awesome as "The Redder The Better". It always leaves me wanting more. And it's a shame they couldn't stick the Get Up Kids cover on this. They did a bang-up job of that, too.

nocigar (April 14, 2009)

this band continues to impress me. awesome release.

mikexdude (April 14, 2009)

Yes, I think it deserves that many stars.

Blackjaw_x (April 14, 2009)

Their best release thus far. Insanely catchy.

Bryne (April 14, 2009)

This review pretty much nails it. Great record.