American Art

I have recently been recommended this album by a friend so I haven't had a great deal of time to understand, appreciate, and analyze the album in its entirety. However, I have already become hooked and the album has been playing on repeat. The band's name is Weatherbox and the album that they have artfully put together the eponymous album American Art. Although it may seem a daunting task to  present your album "American Art", Weatherbox's youthful elements allow them to veer away from pretentious labels. In terms of my teenage mind, American Art can be seen in no other direct and immediate way than through this medium. It may not be perfect, but the album's title ultimately lives up to the music produced. 

 The band's style has definitely been heard before. I would describe it as a combination of punk rock with progressive and indie influences that are clearly seen. The aspect of the band that brings the sound out of a dull regurgitation of past styles is the emotionally charged vocals of the lead singer Brian Warren. In a review by Julia Conny she compares his vocals to that of Max Bemis (one of my favorites) in saying that his style, "is a defiant yet still vulnerable half-song/half-preach, and the howling compared to Bemis’ is undeniably similar". Warren's voice brings the music out of the drab and into the extremely dynamic sound that results from the fusion. The songs do sound redundant at times, but the album has enough musical greatness focused in some songs to carry the rest of the album with ease. A great deal of pathos is invested in the tone of the singer and the self-reflective lyrics reinforce the emotional engagement. All of these elements combined provide a unique sound that doesn't tire easily. The progressive elements of the band sound allow for this. I will continue to listen to this album until I cease to have the desire (which is unfathomable at the moment). 

Because this is one of the earlier albums (2007), I will continue to follow this band to see the improvements and contributions they will make to their sound. 

Drop the Mike (yes, the lead singer raps in this song)

Wolftank, Doff Thy Name