Punknews.org | The Sidekicks

Review Navigator

Features

Reviews

The Sidekicks

Weight of Air
2009
Red Scare

The Sidekicks - Weight of Air (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Justin
See others by this writer

Only registered users
can post comments

Published on September 22nd 2009

Weight of Air starts out with the incredibly off-key wailing of "Let It Breathe" -- not the band's finest hour on first spin. Nonetheless, it's incredibly reminiscent of the opening track on The Greatest Story Ever Told and as many consider that the Lawrence Arms' finest work I expect this album to be received in a similar way. The album is a huge step up for the Cleveland band -- they've outgrown wearing the punk rock influences on their sleeve and instead have crafted a sound that they sound far more comfortable with. Here they stand out from their peers, crafting their own sound by weaving together the poppy aspects of mid-'90s alternative radio fare with the crunchy grunginess of "midwestern rock" like the Replacements and the Weakerthans' faster moments. Tracks like "Looking for Love" are so incredibly catchy you're going to wish this had come out in May so you could spend the whole summer singing it. There's a feeling of '70s garage jangle in some of the songs -- it's not overwhelming, but it's there. The gruff affectations from the band are gone -- what bit of gravel there is left on this record feels natural and well-placed. Any folk ramblings the band might have feel more Weakerthans than they do Chuck Ragan.

But as good as the music is -- and make no mistake, it is simply amazing -- no band succeeds on technical competency alone. Thankfully, the lyrics cash the check the music writes. There's little, if any, attempts at overt political stylings here. Instead you are met with incredibly heartfelt and intricate lyrics with booming choruses and sing-alongs. This is an album whose lyrics, when read on paper, aren't intricate and long-winded; they're simple, to-the-point and sound best when wailed over top of the intricate and catchy music laid down on this disc. Nowhere does this wailing sound better than on the title track "Weight of Air"; after its intense, Fugazi-esque buildup, you can hear the vocalist's voice start to warble just slightly and you just absolutely love it. It's just slightly off-key in the right way and would have been so easy to cover up, but it's there, and that moment helps to make that last song feel so much more triumphant than it would have otherwise.

Describing music that isn't simply a clone of other bands is hard -- fairly impossible, in fact. While Weight of Air is no genre-defining masterpiece it definitely is a breath of fresh air in its scene. It's more rock than it is punk, without being quite as self-conscious as a band like the Hold Steady. In fact, it's far more enjoyable because of the simple, raw ethic that shows through on this record. Refreshingly, there's no drunken punk rock worshipping or overdone production here -- it's just four kids from northern Ohio making music that they'd like to listen to.

Highly recommended. I'd say it's the best album I've heard this year -- punk, rock or otherwise.

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.

What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Posted by diggs6990 on 2009-11-02 19:50:16
My Score:

I hear the lead singer is a good kisser.

Posted by 14theroad on 2009-10-12 01:44:55

The cover reminds me of Idle Will Kill.

Posted by name on 2009-09-29 18:54:07
My Score:

don't get all the hate for this record, its catchy as fuck. the most dynamic thing red scare has released in a while...excepting possibly american rubicon. possibly.

Posted by chokingvictim on 2009-09-28 15:09:41

great record. this has separated them from just another good catchy punk band to something better.

i have high hopes for their future work. also, amazing dudes to hang with.

Posted by KevinH on 2009-09-24 18:39:43
My Score:

So, am I to understand that this is "intricate" then?

But anyway, I enjoyed the music but I thought the lyrics were a major miss.

Posted by punkengineer on 2009-09-24 13:59:26
My Score:

Yeah, I found the vocals kinda annoying. The lyrics weren't anything special. At sometimes they seemed a little cliche to me. I tried to give this record a second chance after everyone was giving it high scores but it is still pretty boring. Nothing special, but not horrible.

Posted by EZ3 on 2009-09-24 07:54:15
My Score:

Sooooooooooooooo boring. Now I know I'm not going to the show.

Posted by LawnDay on 2009-09-23 22:12:33

Can't hang with the vocals. I'll try it again in a day or two maybe.

Posted by eatdogs on 2009-09-22 21:52:19
My Score:

this album is fantastic. i really can hear all the influences throughout.

Posted by Babrook on 2009-09-22 21:21:35
My Score:

Weight of Pears/Weight Of Chairs/Weight of Nair/Weight of Bears

Posted by lessthangene on 2009-09-22 19:25:24
My Score:

not what i was expecting, but still phenomenal. i love seeing Cleveland bands doing great things, and these guys are one of the best.

Posted by Kolen009 on 2009-09-22 17:36:12

I really can't get enough of this record.

Posted by 10-4Eleanor on 2009-09-22 17:25:20
My Score:

Great record!

Posted by telegraphrocks on 2009-09-22 17:06:24

I imagine the cover-art to be 3-D.... I hope I'm right.

Posted by thoughtriotaf578 on 2009-09-22 14:27:58
My Score:

i was a little dissapointed with this album, i was expecting it to sound more like the sam 7". getting past that, it's really good.

Posted by maxstern on 2009-09-22 13:48:06
My Score:

this record rules. so proud of these kids, and they are 4 of the nicest dudes ever.

but who cares about the music. score is for giving me a "thank you" on the cd insert.

Posted by sloanedaley on 2009-09-22 13:27:32
My Score:

dang I just started writing a review for this, what I get for being slow.

Posted by IanIsSuperRad on 2009-09-22 12:40:30
My Score:

Record is phenomenal. These guys deserve so much success.

Posted by thepopeofchili-town on 2009-09-22 11:45:33
My Score:

That was supposed to be a 4, not a 2.

Posted by thepopeofchili-town on 2009-09-22 11:45:02
My Score:

Great Album. Fighting with Fake Problems and Cobra Skulls for my favorite punk record of 09.

Posted by OverDefined on 2009-09-22 09:48:54
My Score:

I love this record.

Posted by quoteunquoterecords on 2009-09-22 03:33:42
My Score:

What the fuck is Blackjaw talking about? This album is inarguably great, it's always nice to hear a basement band make a record that sounds like it could fight the big boys n girls on the radio. Well done sidekicks.

Posted by xshoutoutx on 2009-09-22 02:08:34

....NEED to check this out as soon as I no longer have to steal wireless connection!

Posted by Blackjaw_ on 2009-09-22 00:49:41
My Score:

One of my favourite songwriters ever releases a relatively boring album, lyrically and musically. Big disappointment. I don't mind departing from the punk sound at all, in fact I'd encourage it, but I don't like the direction they chose to go. Steve's solo stuff (available here: http://cultureasgiven.blogspot.com/2009/07/steve-smith-sidekicks. html ) isn't punk or energetic, but still amazing musically, and then this... isn't.

Posted by DarrenMcLeod on 2009-09-22 00:33:36
My Score:

Very, very good album, although for some reason is one that I really have to be in the mood for. It's strange.

Great lyrics too, by the way. Pretty amazing what this band is doing at such a young age.

Posted by Dante3000 on 2009-09-22 00:22:34

Wow, I thought this review would be more towards the top. A thoroughly rocking record. Maybe it just resonates with the 90's alt rocker in me.
-Dante

Features

Contests

Reviews

The Sidekicks