The Number 12 Looks Like You -
An Inch of Gold For An Inch of Time
In a scene full of music where the easiest way to get your band listened to is if you play something that people have heard thousands of times before, The Number 12 Looks Like You takes a step in a different direction. The product of this movement is by far some of the most intense, diverse, and interesting music to grace the ears of anyone willing to give it a listen. For those who are willing to take a step away from labeling music through genres and take a step towards the actual music, The Number 12 orchestrates music that can be admired for its technicality and still be adorned for the melodically chaotic songs they create.
An Inch of Gold for an Inch of Time is the band’s first effort on their current record label Eyeball Records. This seems to bridge the gap between their two full lengths,
Put on Your Rosy Red Glasses and
Nuclear.Sad.Nuclear containing a set of 5 songs; 2 reworked songs from Rosy Red Glasses, 2 songs from their at the time upcoming full length, and the 5th a cover to tie it all together.
If you’ve heard TNTLLU before you’ll know what to expect with this short but tantalizing EP. Starting off, the listener is graced by the first of two songs off of Nuclear.Sad.Nuclear,
Clarissa Explains Cuntainment. If you’ve heard the finished version of this song, there is not much difference except that it lacks the ending solo that would bring the song to a close. However, the ending of this version feels just as complete; as one of the two singers chants, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,” the song brings to a close. This song showcases the musical talent of the band with meddling guitar riffs, breakdown after breakdown, and chaotic dueling vocals that incorporate everything from grind growls to high pitched screaming.
After hearing that, naturally you’re left wanting more, and the next song more than delivers.
Don’t Get Blood on My Prada Shoes showcases their more chaotic side. This is a redone version of the song of the same title off of their first cd. Coming in at a mere minute and twenty some seconds this song somehow manages to fit so much into such a little bit of time; catchy yet chaotic breakdowns, however, seem to be the showcase of this song. The original version was yet more chaotic, but to me this version stands its own against the original, and is definitely more accessible.
The next song is probably familiar to anyone who has ever heard The Number 12 before,
Like a Cat is one of their most recognizable songs off the newest CD. The main distinction I’ve found between this song and the final version is that the guitars seem a lot shriller and more detectable than that of the final version. The musicianship is the same, but the effect on this version of the song brings out the guitar a lot more and in my opinion makes all the difference in the quality of this song.
The fourth song,
Jesus and Tori showcases their musical talent with a pulling off and hammering intro that leads straight into one of the better growls I’ve heard in newer grind music. This song is full of great musical composition and in my opinion the best song on the CD, filled with speedy palm muted riffs with some of the better dueling guitars I’ve heard this band do. This is also a cleaned up version of the original song, and also more accessible due to the vocals. The vocals are still just as chaotic, but less shrill. If you’re interested in seeing this band at its best, check out this song.
Finishing off this EP is a cover of the Knack’s song
My Sharona. They do an outstanding job on making it their own. The intro of this song grabs you in and doesn’t let go until the ending breakdown. Many people nag at bands for what seem to be “ironic” covers of older songs, and I agree when all a band does is redo the same exact song. However, when a band makes it their own as does The Number 12 here, it becomes a completely new song entirely. They are the only band I could have entrusted with adding shrill screams and growls to one of the catchiest and well known songs of the past 20 some years. The only problem with this one is that it may get a little old a little fast compared to their other music.
When looked at as a whole, this EP may be nothing more than 5 songs to tide listeners over until they can get their hands on the full length, but the remakes of the songs off of Put on Your Rosy Red Glasses are reason enough to go pay the small ticket price for this CD. If you’ve read this whole review, and you don’t have this yet, you’ve wasted too much of your time already without it. Go buy it, end of story.
Pros
- Remakes of 2 Put on Your Rosy Red Glasses songs
- In my opinion, a better version of Like a Cat
- Great cover of My Sharona
- Good, cheap way to get a look at what this band is all about
Cons
- Short, lasting less than 15 minutes
- Not for everyone
- If you have their two full lengths, you may not be interested in this
Final Verdict: This is probably the easiest way to get a good look at what the band is all about, with a few of their previous songs and a few of their new ones. For returning fans of the band, not a necessary addition to your showcase of CDs but well worth the EP price it cost. Go buy it. Now.
4.6/5
