Up to Us - Up to Us [7-inch] (Cover Artwork)
Staff Review

Up to Us

Up to Us [7-inch] (2010)

7-Ply


Wow. This has a massive dose of positivity from the get-go and continues across the five tracks of frantic, female-fronted hardcore, leaving me in no doubt that here is a band that are all up at 6 a.m., come rain or shine, pounding the streets to keep fit, spending the day doing appropriately posi things and ending the day with some veggie food and a bottle of water. I may sound a tad facetious there, but it's more in jest than anything else...or is it actually jealousy?

What you have here is fairly formulaic hardcore (think of a typical gang of kids all X-ed up) which is kept from being purely mediocre by those fantastic vocals of Andi (I have no idea of her full name as this band seems to have a miniscule presence on the internet), which raises this band into something well worth listening to.

This formulaic hardcore is, however, well performed, with guitars buzzing away and drums sounding like a machine gun attack–all clearly in evidence on the first track, "Pride", through to the end of "Silent Majority". The lyrics clearly define the band as one living that positive way of life (one which someone of advanced years might struggle to appreciate, although hats off to anyone of such an age who can still view the world in such a way) and it's very much about sticking up for each other in "Got Your Back", standing up and being yourself in "Who I Am" and how things can be improved in "Better Tomorrow". Of course, these messages are nothing new, and they could be dismissed as a bunch of idealistic kids who will one day view the world in a different light, but for now they're trying to keep that positivity and spread the word.

Yes, I am one of the old cynics who have allowed themselves to be ground down a bit, and whilst I do still believe in certain things, I now have less faith in achieving certain goals or changing the system by any means. I think that's why I "mocked" the positivity at the start as I wish I had an ounce of that sometimes to keep my cynicism in check.

This is actually a pretty good record, thanks primarily to Andi's involvement, and if anyone has any information about the band (their own website is next to useless–perhaps they're too busy doing more important things to add useful details?!) I'd appreciate them getting in touch. I have found a live set of theirs done for a radio station, but the quality if a bit iffy and does not enhance my knowledge of the band itself, but does showcase Andi's vocal talents pretty well.