Review Summary: In the end, this album is one of my favorite alternative rock albums. This album is deep, yet simple, intense, yet calm. I'll take this over any mainstream sellout any day. Also, this album is free.
Many people have informed me in the recent past that music has died, and that nothing good ever comes out these days, and I suppose if all I listened to is what’s on the radio, I would agree. Instead, I usually respond with “look harder”.
Drugstore Fanatics is a perfect example of what I mean. They are an indie group, though you would never tell from this albums excellent production job. They sound something like
Soundgarden meets
Nine Inch Nails. From the opening track of their debut album, What’s Born In The Basement, you can tell that you are in for something special, with it’s simply verses, and the loud, chugging chorus, however, this is not what the band specializes in.
They are at their best when playing dark ambient industrial rock. They make music that demands your attention, while rarely getting in your face. Songs like Lonely Winter are perfect examples of this, and feature the band perfectly. They also managed to create some truly unique songs, such as The Boy, which uses a heart monitor as the backbeat of the song. This album simply does not have a single bad track on it.
Daniel Brecher is credited as the lead songwriter for the band, and his lyrics mostly consist of self-examination, which works very well, creating a brooding, almost suffocating effect at times. This album feels like Daniel has almost had it, and can barely hold in the sadness and anger. That is, until track 8, Bullet, which is an extremely aggressive song, filled with violent instrumentals and lyrics. This is one of the highlights of the album, and while I have definitely heard angrier songs, the slight restraint works perfectly here, creating an excellent high point for the album.
In the end, this album is one of my favorite alternative rock albums. This album is deep, yet simple, intense, yet calm. I'll take this over any mainstream sellout any day. Also, this album is free. Go to drugstorefanatics.com, and look for a free download button if you wish to get a copy of this album to listen to yourself. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
