 The
Stand-Ins
"Clean Slate" CD
Medium
Build
Genres: indie rock, rock, hard rock
Nov 15 - 21 2004 |
As the story goes, The Stand-Ins are a trio of former
rhythm-section members looking to let their own creative genius
out. It shows. These twelve short rock songs (which go by
in less than forty minutes) are heavy on rhythm but a bit low on
hooks. "Sharp Stick" and "Blame This
Town" show where the band's interests lie - hard rock -
which means that their fanbase is pretty much set. If you're
looking for pop music, look elsewhere; this is no-frills rock,
occasionally catchy but always riveting and punchy.
Predictably, Clean Slate's best songs are its most melodic
ones. "Flip My Lid" is a delightful romp with a
delicious Americana tinge, and "Can Be Wrong" is charged and
rousing, with a Afghan Whigs sound. However, some of the
less infectious numbers ("Sharp Stick," "On My
Diamond") don't stand up well over multiple listens; if Clean
Slate could be pared down a bit, it would make for a very solid
EP. Catchy tunes like "Tabula Rasa" and "Rant
" make for real hits, so the potential is certainly there. Still, even with a few less memorable
numbers, I find myself quite happy with this record. The
Stand-Ins have a unique blend of spirited, American hard rock -
somewhat reminiscent of the mid-90s scene - and it makes for quite a
treat.
81%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
12 tracks, distributed by the
band, released 2004] |
