Review Summary: The remnants of 90s Emo lends its best attributes for a 'mature' trip down memory lane
I was delving into the blissful beauty we've come to know as Foxing, when I happened to venture to their label's fourth sampler on Bandcamp. The kickoff track was a hit by Certain People I Know, Make It Up. It sits at the tail end of the group's self-titled debut. The song packs a punch and even suits the role of an opener, a good reason if any to have it open the sampler. It was convincing enough to have me spin the debut right away!
This review can't begin without mentioning that Certain People I Know involves Damon Atkinson and Bob Nanna. You might know these certain people from the bands Braid (1993-1999) and Hey Mercedes (1999-2005). Those bands had that “Emo” Alt/Indie sound that was prominent during those years. I remember playing Amped 2 on Xbox and hearing a few tracks by Braid. Ah those were the days. Nostalgia, that's exactly the emotion that these bands, and especially CPIK play off of.
That nostalgic sound underwent a metamorphoses of sorts by the time Certain People I Know came around. It seems this time that they have a more developed sense of what they were doing musically. Their songs are a little less self-absorbed, and a little more mature. The previously donned 'Emo' association has been reserved as an influence, and they've leaned to and embraced the Alt/Indie association. Here's a band who grew up listening to bands such as Braid and Hey Mercedes... Oh wait, they WERE Braid and Hey Mercedes. *cough* Excuse me.
So maybe they are still a little self-absorbed if they are self-inspired. At least the music doesn't cling to that self-absorbed emotional feel that bums everyone out and makes the awesome people like you and I cringe. The emotion we know as 'nostalgia' is approached on this album, but Certain People I Know make it feel less constraining and more uplifting. It's a sweet surrender so to speak.
CPIK focus on building strong song dynamics with familiar structures, firm melodies, and a rock'n attitude. It's a recipe for success as it borrows from nostalgias of that Alt/Indie craze of the '90s, but with a warmer, fuzzier, small-time Indie band vibe. The downside to their formula, and this won't bother some people because these are actually good songs, is the lack of evolution from their influences. You might listen to this and feel like you've heard the exact melody or chord progression before. It might even cause some listeners to lose interest sooner. There are a few memorable tracks but they are scattered throughout the album, and might have some listeners skipping through after a while.
Overall this is a solid self-titled debut, which clutches to the remains of what inspired these artists. Certain People I Know must be quite proud of themselves.
