Review Summary: Lengthly hardcore with punk and prog ethics
It's almost been a year since a buddy of mine put this cd in my car and said, "Bro this right here reminds me of a downtempo Hopesfall." At first I was like, "Wow, he's exactly right about that.." now my thoughts on this album are way different. This cd is an experience, one that has to be sat through and no song must be skipped. From the instrumental opening of, "Your love in the morning" to the closing song, "Your faithfulness in the afternoon." Anyways, onto what is really important, reviewing this
masterpiece of an album.
MEMBERS:
Chad Seely / Bass/Vocals
Dan Shebaylo / Guitar/Vocals
Silas Zdybel / Drums/Vocals
Right from the start Dan Shebaylo, guitarest of The Blue Letter shows you he isn't afriad to use effects and feedback within the first few seconds of, "Your love in the morning." Starting the album off with an insturmental that sets the tone of this album, slowly building up with a few notes played over and over, while the drummer Silas Zdybel builds up the pace and shifts the moods in this song. Silas is really the star of this album his drumming is what moves you through out this album, while the guitar is just a layer under setting tones and emotions for the music.
"This window is made of one way glass" starts off with a drum roll and interesting effects produced out of Shebaylos guitar and did you even knowtice the transition from the last song? Shebaylo comes in with his raspy scream/yelling and the band shows off their punk ethics. Group vocals come in about half-way into the song and they become intrumental with the vibe you should of gotten from the last track. Their insturmental work is great comparing to the likes of Isis, Giant, and Pelican. The ending of the song is back into the punk feel with Shebaylos raspy yelling and ening with a guitar effect that seemelesly transitions into the next song.
As the looped effects carry on, "We'll Cut Down the Trees, and Name Our Streets After Them" starts off with the drummer gently hitting the symbols while Shebaylo and bassist Chad Seely play very mellow notes on their insturments. Keeping it mellow till about 1:58 then crashing in with a sludgy/downtempo feel which continues as the basis for this song. At about 3:33 this song displays one of the best points in my oppion, concluding with the vocal shot out, "Every beat of your heart is a lie, even through your mask I can still see your eyes." A very powerful part in the song, but afterwards the song has a slight downfall in a transition from such a powerful part to a sludgyer feel untill it picks back up and ends.
The next song, "Moved in 98'" is my least liked song on the album. I personaly have no problem with long songs, hell I listen to "Godspeed! You Black Emperor," but where most bands fail at is making their long "Epic" songs intersting. This song starts out like it would be very interesting and mellow, but you'll soon come to find out it just repeats. No build ups, no progression, just we hear one somber part for 2 minutes, one part somber with screams, intrumental, repeat... It holds promice with the ideas these musicians present, but I feel as if they failed to mold them right.
After the lengthly "Moved in 98'" you are presented with a blistering, "Without a warning we dissipeared" with crashing drums and that punk/post-hardcore ethic they have displayed in earlier songs. This time though when the band goes to jam, it's not as mellow, it's more upbeat and with the groove of the song. This song continues to blister from start to finish.
Last, but not least closing this album out we have, "Your faithfulness at night" and if you aren't paying attition to the songs you won't even knowtice it sadly..
This is my first review and by all means I expect the worst, but by all means this album is one of the best things in whatever-core out there lately, their bio which is on ther label and myspace page describes this album perfectly and it is what I will leave you with.
"This isn't the place to find some pretentiously prolific statement. We're not here to create some ambiguous controversy. Art is important to us. Music, and the ideas and messages we can all choose to convey through this medium, is a powerful tool. It's not about fashion or status. Challenge each other. Encourage one another. Be passionate about what you are doing. Be a message!
"In a time when the hardcore scene has been confined to breakdowns and guitar squeals, and fashion has seemed to become more important than ideas and music, THE BLUE LETTER challenges stereotypes and genre boundaries with explosive textured soundscapes. Their music is passionate and dynamic, layered with hoarse screamy vocals and soft interludes. Be ready..."
