Review Summary: Nothing’s perfect, but we can still have fun
2 of 2 thought this review was well writtenI have to say that I was slightly taken aback by
Apart’s debut album; I streamed it online, not really expecting anything special, and instantly fell in love with the simple charm of what it is; straightforward, passion-fuelled, screamo. That’s about it – there are no pretensions, and nothing particularly complicated about it, it’s just the band playing their hearts out and having fun, and for this reason the listener can’t help but enjoy it.
Instrumentally, the album is solid whilst not being too advanced; driving chords are contrasted with excellent clean breaks, ensuring that the album is not one-dimensional, and the vocals – although they start to get slightly monotonous by the end of the album – are more than passionate and energetic enough to keep the album intense and engaging.
The main problem with
Grey Light is variety, or lack of; there is very little to distinguish one song from another, and although this makes the album cohesive and consistent, it holds it back from achieving its full potential. Even worse is the fact that the first two tracks –
Carolina Cold and
Two Lane Blacktop – are the best songs on the album, so that listener is left with the impression that all the other songs are slightly inferior copies after hearing the opening combo (with the exception of closer
Dead Air, which stands out because it includes the most franticly intense moment of the album at the start, and because of its saxophone outro). Whether or not this feeling is justified, listening to the first two tracks on repeat is often a lot easier than listening to the whole album. On the bright side, it is barely over twenty minutes long, so the lack of variety doesn’t drag it down too badly, but it is still very obvious.
Although this has a few obvious flaws, it remains a fun listen and a firm foundation that
Apart can build upon. Recommended to anyone who likes harsh vocals, since it is rather accessible.
Pros
Energetic and fun
The clean breaks are very effective
Accessible
Cons
Needs more diversity
Vocals become monotonous
Track order is awkward, due to the best two being at the start
Top 5
1. Two Lane Blacktop
2. Carolina Cold
3. Dead Air
4. Play On, Soft Pipes
5. Grey Light
