- Release Info -------------------------------------------------------------- -
Artist: Defeat The Low
Album: A Nervous Smile
Label: Rise Records
Playtime: 31:26 min
Genre: Rock
URL: http://www.facebook.com/defeatthelowOR
Rip date: 2015-04-16
Street date: 2014-11-17
Size: 67.02 MB
Type: Normal
Quality: 282 kbps / 4410Hz / Joint Stereo
- Release Notes ------------------------------------------------------------- -
Don't let the press' odd reaction to the news that Defeat The Low features
Rise Records' CEO Craig Ericson on guitar sway you one bit. This is definitely
a worthwhile and talented group, no matter how ôDIY they actually areö. Who
honestly cares, anymore? Outside of legitimate issues regarding band members'
pasts (criminals, Nazi allegiances, the band Attila), itÆs best to judge the
product on its own merits. In that regard, Defeat The Low is a certifiable
winner.
The band has a sound that was plucked from about ten years ago, hitting all
the right nostalgia points. If names like The Juliana Theory, Matchbook
Romance, or Hidden in Plain View mean anything to you, then you need to get
ahold of a copy A Nervous Smile. Defeat The Low certainly sounds like a lot of
bands on Tooth and Nail or Victory Records circa the early 2000s, oddly
enough. This is driving, melodic alt/punk with a post-hardcore edge. Back in
the day (*putting on my old man's reading glasses*) we called this style ôemo
rock,ö and it bothered the Hell out of genre purists. The band certainly has
all the requisite emotion and energy. In fact, I'd go as far as to say Defeat
the Low is what IÆve always wanted Taking Back Sunday to sound like: sincere,
emotive rock with riffs and hooks galore. Oh, and no BS. Songs like
ôSwordfish,ö ôAurora Ave,ö and ôSimple Cityö are fantastic throwback numbers,
but they serve as surprisingly solid rock tracks in their own right.
That's maybe the most impressive aspect of Defeat The Low: sure, this hits
that soft spot I had for the Warped Tours of yesteryear, but A Nervous Smile
is a surprisingly confident listen. The band knew what it wanted to do, and
itÆs absolutely a winning formula. An unfortunately weak couple of songs are
the only thing weighing down what is otherwise a highly listenable, enjoyable
record. Go ahead and call this unoriginal; I'll go ahead and sing along,
regardless. I'd advise you to do the same thing.
- Track List ---------------------------------------------------------------- -
01. Swordfish ( 3:37)
02. Aurora Avenue ( 3:15)
03. Clarity ( 3:29)
04. Turn To Hate ( 3:49)
05. Simple City ( 2:42)
06. American Made ( 2:16)
07. Instrumental ( 2:27)
08. The Walking Dead ( 2:36)
09. Harbor ( 3:55)
10. In Formation ( 3:20)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -