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Let Me Run

Broken Strings (2010)
Paper and Plastick

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

Published on June 22nd 2010

Let Me Run have returned with a new vocalist, and their Broken Strings EP is a vast improvement over 2009's Meet Me at the Bottom, which had some good moments but was bogged down by a lack of variety and weird, oversaturated production.

The band's ascent is best displayed in "Brocomotive," a track with a huge, anthemic chorus thanks to some catchy vocal melodies. "Catch You When You Fall" keeps the catchiness going, employing a bouncing bassline and some well-placed "ooh"s, and the song as a whole sounds a bit like Matt Pryor fronting the Loved Ones.

"CSJ" is a slower affair, but the lack of speed is compensated for in the form of passionate, depth-laden vocals by not only Dan Maxwell, but the band surrounding him as well. A hooky solo in the refrain helps, too. The "ruin you" chants in the chorus of "Ruiner" help maintain the infectiousness. In fact, gang vocals are prominent in most of these six songs, and they're utilized quite well.

Let Me Run expand things a bit on the near five-minute opus "Thank You My Dear." The track opens with distant vocals and minimal instrumentation before crescendoing into a massive chorus replete with "hey"s, "whoa"s and "oh"s and a passionate plea from Maxwell that assumed "dear" in question still sees something in him. It's appropriate, considering a lot of folks saw something in Let Me Run a year and some change ago; only this time around, they're leaving an indelible impression. The band has been given a new lease on life and on Broken Strings, they make the most of it.

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vicSRNJ (November 5, 2010)

allfornot, if you're talking about Rocky, who is their current singer now, he also plays/played in a band called Streets of Fire. Good band, good dude.

patod (July 1, 2010)

Sick

MN_DrNick (June 24, 2010)

Very solid EP. Better than Meet Me At The Bottom, but I did enjoy that album.

sickboi (June 24, 2010)

I like the EP, but don't think it's better than the LP. The new songs are great, but the dude's vocals were a little too dramatic for my liking. It was such a bummer when Travis left the band, good dudes and they played so well together.

-chris

Blackjaw_ (June 24, 2010)

my god are these lyrics ever trite.

MilkyJoe (June 23, 2010)

Nevermind - found it on the Paper & Plastick page, but let the record show, that it wasn't there on the official release date...

MilkyJoe (June 23, 2010)

I cant't seem to find this in CD-format anywhere, so I sort of gave up, but reading this review, I would really like to get my paws on it, if possible.

For the love of God, please help me...

No_Direction (June 23, 2010)

Love it, although I miss the old vocals, but it still really works with the new vocalist.

I don't get the dislike for the full length, I thought it was really solid bar 1 or 2 songs. Live grenades was one of my favourite tunes of 2009.

nick_s (June 23, 2010)

This is ep is pretty good, but I prefered Travis' vocals and thought MMATB was a strong record. Ok, the production isn't what you'd expect but I don't think it hurts the album that much and the guitar lines are great.

vinhoff (June 22, 2010)

Don't care much for CSJ but the rest of the EP is solid, I like Meet Me at the Bottom better, I think this record has much less interesting guitar parts and overall I find myself missing Travis Omilian's vocals.

inagreendase (June 22, 2010)

Not bad. I seem to be the only one that preferred the full-length even a little.

allfornot (June 22, 2010)

Thanks man.

mathclub (June 22, 2010)

allfornot: /www.myspace.com/danmaxwell

allfornot (June 22, 2010)

Is the fill in singer in any other bands? I really liked his voice.

mikexdude (June 22, 2010)

Did you used to believe?

DID YOU USED TO BELIEVE?

half_head (June 22, 2010)

i really didn't like the lp that came out last year, since i'm seeing some good reviews here i'll give this ep a listen.

GarrettIrish (June 22, 2010)

I actually really liked Let Me Run's demos, though I agree MMATB was a bit off and on. When they slowed down "The Count of Monte Fisto" for that release it really killed the song for me.

I just got used to this guys voice and now he's gone too? Goddamn.

thesandwiches (June 22, 2010)

the singer on this EP was just a fill in. I believe the guitarist sings all the stuff live now.

PaulPendley (June 22, 2010)

This record is killer.

allfornot (June 22, 2010)

Their new vocalist is already gone? Jesus, why can't this band hang on to a singer?

bryne (June 22, 2010)

I only just found out after I submitted this review that the 'new' vocalist is already out of the band, so weird. A bummer, too.

Still, this EP is great.