NortherlyNanook
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Soundoffs 5
Album Ratings 4
Last Active 11-21-09 12:24 am
Joined 07-04-06

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Engine Down Under the Pretense of Present Tense
Virginia-based post-hardcore band Engine Down's debut album showed a rougher sound that would later only be an influence in the rest of their music: the classic D.C. sound. Unlike the rest of their discography, Under the Pretense of Present Tense also features screaming that's actually pulled off rather well. Like with the rest of their music, Engine Down favors more simple instrumentation with not much obvious technicality. The overall sound mostly resembles the typical emo sound of the time and area, with cleaner melodies and softer singing/spoken word leading up to rather harsh, distorted guitars and screaming. This album shows a more inte		4
11.21.08
Denali Denali
Denali's great self-titled album proves to fully take advantage of Maura Davis's beautiful voice and keeps the listener entertained with emotional, well structured music. Although the instrumentation may not be so original or technical, the occasional density of sound and the peaceful synthy melodies only build on Maura's vocals. A great alternative album.		4
10.02.08
Engine Down Engine Down
I may be a fan of Engine Down, but with their last album, Engine Down, we see them moving to an even more generic, radio-friendly "post-hardcore" sound. Although their albums tended to get closer to this sound, their previous two, Demure and To Bury Within the Sound still managed to entertain with their melancholic, simple sound.

Although I hate to use the phrase "radio-friendly" to describe the sound, it's really the most evident progression in Engine Down's sound with this album. I also hate to make it seem as if their signing to a more well-known label for this label made them "sell out" or some c		3
05.21.08
Ambulette The Lottery EP
Ambulette's The Lottery EP plays like a slightly more upbeat Denali, though it's not too hard to say that, since vocalist Maura Davis is the standout in both bands and since Denali's albums tended to be a bit more downkey. Although it lacks the distorted sound that Denali was almost starting to overuse, the structures still show the same "alternative" formula. Maura shows off a bit more of her range than with Denali, allowing for a bit more variation, though I must admit that it's a bit strange to hear (dare I say it?) deeper vocals. The Jacques Brel cover "If You Go Away" also shows off a bluesy guitar solo, a feature not often (if at all) s		3.5
05.02.08

shoutbox » all posts 
  • theacademy sorta just wanted to clear my ratings anyway...maybe catch a banning, idk...
    November 16 01:14 AM

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