Contrived
"blank, blank, blank" CD
Hand-Drawn
Dracula
Genre: indie rock, experimental
rock
Michigan, USA
Jan 2009 |
Hey look, it's yet another supergroup born out of the ever-incestuous
Canadian indie scene. This one features members of
critically-acclaimed bands Holy Fuck and Wintersleep,
and if blank, blank, blank is any indication, it's about as
orthodox an act as you could ask for in 2008. Mostly bleak? Check.
Often indistinct? Check. Complex dance-prog-whatever rhythms with lots
of hi-hats? Oh yeah. Vocals usually low in the mix, always vulnerable
or bitter or both? Obviously. It's apparent that Contrived,
like most bands who follow this formula, are using Radiohead
(sigh) as a model. Also like most bands who follow the formula, when
they get really despondent, they're remarkably dull - while their
musical genius is considerable, it isn't quite at the Radioheadian
level of complexity it needs to be at for their particularly arid
tracks ("Eavesdropping") to be really rewarding.
Fortunately, there's also a lot to love about this ambitious album.
On most of their songs, once Contrived are done introspecting,
they transition into accelerating balls-out rock breakdowns ("Angels
Rioting Against the Nothing") that approach heights of musical tension
capable of bringing down any house live. And they really hit their
stride on the last three tracks, which are almost upbeat enough to
offset or at least help contextualize the depressingness of the first
five. There's even a kind of sheepishness that permeates the downers
on this album, which is kind of unique and refreshing. There are two
keepers: "Celebrate," which says grace in these uncertain economic and
environmental times over jangly(!) guitars and vocal harmonies
reminiscent of early Sloan, and especially the finale
"Keepsake," a propulsive statement on secrets and game theory. Cheers
to Contrived for deviating from their usual MO with blank,
blank, blank – I'm looking forward to seeing where they go from
here. It's anyone's guess.
contrived's myspace
81%
Rhett Alexander
[Vitals: 8 tracks, distributed by
the
label,
released Nov 11, 2008] |
