Piebald-Accidental Gentleman
Side One Dummy
3.5/5
Somerville, Mass.’ Piebald’s latest record, Accidental Gentleman, is the band’s sophomore release for super-indie label Side One Dummy.
The band has come a long way since it was a hardcore band in Andover, Mass. They now sound more like alternative rock from the 1990s. Its previous release, All Ears, All Eyes, All the Time, was a large departure from previous releases, featuring a large emphasis on vocal harmonies and piano-driven melodies.
Accidental Gentleman is a return to the sound of 2002’s We Are the Only Friends We Have, with driving rock and vocal hooks. A piano is still present, but it is no longer at the forefront of the sound throughout the album, but rather used sparingly, to excellent effect. The vocal harmonies remain, but are used better than before.
Standout tracks include the aptly titled “Opener,” which features an immediate burst of energy and urgency sorely lacking anywhere on All Eyes. “If you don’t want to know/Why’d you ask?” frontman Travis Shettel angrily demands at the outset. An energetic drumbeat propels the song, while guitar noise feeds in and out, but the hook lies in the bass, which rumbles along mercilessly.
“Oh, The Congestion,” sounds like Ixnay-era Offspring and mid 1990s emo (The Promise Ring); it has a straightforward punk riff motoring over a steady drumbeat. “There’s Always Something Better To Do” takes lounge-rock to new heights, sounding effortlessly like a blues band at a bar messing around and having fun—just as the guys of Piebald always seem to be doing.
No comments:
Post a Comment