 Taking
Pictures
"Friends Are Ghosts" CD
My
Pal God Records
Genres: indie rock, rock
My Pal God
47 Hardy Dr.
Princeton, NJ
08540
Dec 9 - 15 2002 |
Taking
Pictures are Matt Jencik on bass, Mat Daly on
guitar, and Noah Leger on drums, with all of them also
contributing vocals. The trio are three quarters of what once was
indie rock outfit Hurl. Though I was never familiar with Hurl's
work, this album is making me wish I had paid attention while they
were around.
With a very fresh, catchy sound, Taking Pictures' debut, Friends
are Ghosts, is the type of album you leave in your stereo for
weeks on end. Coming at you with an emotional (yet not whiney) rock
sound and an epic, almost progressive, songwriting style, this album
combines the coolness of the rock edge with the irresistible
catchiness of pop.
Take the epic "You Serve, You're So," for example.
Starting off with irresistibly juicy guitar hooks and nice vocals, the
track comes on strong and slowly calms down, ending with a prolonged
instrumental bit that really works well. "Slowly Turning
Ashes" is another excellent work - it features an awesome
multiple-vocal chorus that carries you away in a flurry of angular
guitars and pop hooks.
But the best song on this entire album is undoubtedly "That
Fight We Should Have Never Had." Four and a half minutes of
sonic-charged rock, it hits you right in the gut, blasting forth in a
relentless charge of high-speed rhythms and charged, chiming guitars.
The melody alone will have you squirming in blissful ecstasy.
Taking Pictures have recorded a winner. With indie rock
melodies to die for, edgy guitars, and fantastic rhythms, you'll be
doing yourself a disservice by ignoring this record. This band could
be the next Dismemberment Plan, and this - one of the most
fantastic debuts to come around in a long while - is where it all
begins.
91%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
8 songs + 1 not listed; distributed by the
label;
released 2002] |
