Driven Far Off

The latest on the indie, alternative, and rock music scene including news, music, contest, interviews, and more. Best described as your favorite place to find new bands.

Pete Nischt – The Free EP

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Pete Nischt The Free EP

Artist: Pete Nischt
Album: The Free EP
Label: Regular Music
Purchase: Regular Music
Release Date: October 2006

Overall: 8.0
Music: 8.0
Lyrics: 8.0
Production: 7.0

What is better than free? Not much and what is the best marketing tool? Give things away for free. Well I had not heard of Pete Nischt before downloading his free EP (and I’m still unsure of how to pronounce his last name) but I know this won’t be the last time either.

This EP is chalked full of potential. It reminds me so much of the first time I heard Dashboard Confessional, not so much the voice but the style, and the rawness that a singer/song writer and his acoustic guitar tend to have. Also there was an acoustic singer/song writer that went under the name “Remember Maine” with a similar style who later went on to front a little band called “The Academy Is…” so don’t under estimate the potential that lies in the simple single instrument bands.

The record starts off with one of the catchier songs “Hello Denver”. Despite having only the acoustic guitar the EP does stay upbeat most of the time with a big ending plea in the last song “June”. This EP is better than average. Mostly it’s a great chance to get acquainted with someone you will more than likely be hearing more from in the future. This release is definitely worth your time to go download it, and definitely worth the price.

Track listing
1. Hello Denver
2. Second Second Chances
3. Sandbox
4. Stars
5. June

The Decemberists – The Crane Wife

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The Decemberists The Crane Wife

Artist: The Decemberists
Album: The Crane Wife
Label: Capitol Records
Purchase: Amazon
Release Date: October 3rd, 2006

Overall: 9.5
Music: 9.0
Lyrics: 9.5
Production: 9.5

If ever there was an album I wasnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t expecting to listen to, and even less expecting to praise it as the amazing record that it is, then it would be â┚¬Ã…”The Crane Wifeâ┚¬? from The Decemberists. Let me go back and say that I had heard that this record was coming out, but from my past experiences with The Decemberists I was not interested in this at all. My view of the band before was that they were talented, but just slow, dark, and boring. Well like I usually am when I judge a record before I hear it, I was wrong about â┚¬Ã…”The Crane Wifeâ┚¬? It is definitely one of the best works released this year.

I was trying to think of a way to describe this album, and over and over again only one word kept coming to mind, and however dangerous it may be to define a complex release with only one word, thatâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s what Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢m going to do. Melody is what describes this record, the melody is what sticks out on â┚¬Ã…”The Crane Wifeâ┚¬?, and the melody is what grabs you in the seemingly simple songs. This is proved by the very first song â┚¬Ã…”the crane wife 3â┚¬?, which if you are not hooked, or at least intrigued in the first minute of the first song, then there is a good chance that this gem of a record is not for you.

Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ve heard from people and can tell that this CD is a different direction for The Decemberists but not really being interested before Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢m not too familiar and so I wonâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t try and explain the difference between this and their previous works. â┚¬Ã…”The Crane Wifeâ┚¬? is a breezy, light, folk album with deep and complex lyrics. On first listen the lyrics may be passed by just because of the melody they float on. The best example would be the last song â┚¬Ã…”Sons and Daughtersâ┚¬? with the foot tapping, almost bouncy feel, yet its deep political message. In a couple of songs the electric guitars are brought out â┚¬Ã…”The Perfect Crime 2â┚¬? and â┚¬Ã…”When The War Cameâ┚¬? yet those songs never feel out of place on this otherwise acoustic album.

This album should be heard by everyone whether or not you have been a fan of this band in the past. It is one of those albums (for me at least) that literally came out of nowhere and shocked me with how amazing it was.

Track listing
1. The Crane Wife 3
2. The Island-Come & See/The Landlordâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s Daughter/Youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ll Not Feel The Drowning
3. Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)
4. O Valencia!
5. The Perfect Crime #2
6. When The War Came
7. Shankhill Butchers
8. Summersong
9. The Crane Wife 1 and 2
10. Sons and Daughters

ActionReaction – 3 Is The Magic Number

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ActionReaction 3 is The Magic Number

Artist: ActionReaction
Album: Self-Titled
Label: Equal Vision
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: August 22, 2006

Overall: 6.5
Music: 5.0
Lyrics: 5.9
Production: 6.9

Let me start by saying this is not another further seems forever album. I know the singer plays one of the biggest parts in making a band what they are and what they sound like but Jason Gleason, for better or worse, has left the further seems forever sound behind and approached â┚¬Ã…”ActionReactionâ┚¬? from a totally different aspect.

Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ll be honest I do miss the â┚¬Ã‹Å“How to Start a Fireâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ days, and so I was looking forward to something new from this amazing singer. Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ll just be honest, I was let down by â┚¬Ã‹Å“3 Is the Magic Numberâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢. I was not let down because it wasnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t another Further Seems Forever record, because that wouldnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t be fair to ActionReaction. I was let down by the songs, for the most part they didnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t seem finished, they seemed rushed and very raw. Donâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t get me wrong sometimes a raw sound can be a good thing, but itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s not that the sound was raw but they songs themselves appear rushed and didnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t seem to flow very well.

Before you stop reading because you think Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢m a hater, let me say there are definitely good things about the bandâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s debut for example the first song â┚¬Ã…”Sinnerâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s Algebraâ┚¬? is a wonderful rock song. The song is catchy without going overboard and accomplishes its goal. Another standout track would be â┚¬Ã…”With My Voiceâ┚¬? with its foot taping beat and catchy chorus. The record does do some good things, but just not enough and in the end a lot of the songs are forgettable and donâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t pull you back. Itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s probably worth checking out if youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢re a huge Jason Gleason fan though.

Track Listing
1. Sinner’s Algebra
2. Can You Hear The Sun?
3. March On
4. At the Moon
5. Come See My Grave
6. The Exit Poll Amen
7. Contagious
8. With My Voice
9. The 21 Gun Salute
10. Have a Cocktail
11. Spark the Sun

Mute Math – Self-Titled

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Mute Math Self Titled

Artist: Mute Math
Album: Self-Titled
Label: Warner Brothers
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: September 26, 2006

Overall: 10.0
Music: 10.0
Lyrics: 10.0
Production: 10.0

This album is a little different than most that were released this year, because this album was really released twice. It has been a big rollercoaster ride for Mute Math and them putting out their debut full length. They released it earlier this year on tour, selling it at their shows and using their own money to fund that. September 26th was when the record was officially released by Warner Brothers.

The first song is an instrumental track which sets the stage for everything you can except to hear over the next 60 minutes. The drums are loud and raw and stick out, but in such a perfect way. The keyboard and guitar set the melody which is quickly added to with faint vocals which aren’t words but rather is used as another instrument. The first song fades and the guitar comes in strong and leads you into the rest of the record.

The record is very dynamic, it does not fit in a certain mold, sometimes rocking out hard with songs like â┚¬Ã…”Typicalâ┚¬? and â┚¬Ã…”chaosâ┚¬? while other times it shows itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s softer side with songs like â┚¬Ã…”Stall Outâ┚¬? and â┚¬Ã…”Stare At The Sunâ┚¬? which connects to another instrumental track â┚¬Ã…”Obsoleteâ┚¬?, although this one is much long (4:30 to be exact). The whole time though this record is intelligent, it never misses a step and is complimented with thought provoking lyrics on every track.

One thing that came across my mind was that there are so many sounds and effect on the record that I thought they might be shooting themselves in the foot by putting a record out that they could not play live, but that is not the case at all. The 6 song live EP that comes with this CD proves they know how to replicate the sounds and emotion that is on their debut self-titled full length.
Do yourself a favor and go buy this.

Track listing
1. Collapse
2. Typical
3. After We Have Left Our Homes
4. Chaos
5. Noticed
6. Plan B
7. Stare At The Sun
8. Obsolete
9. Break The Same
10. You Are Mine
11. Control
12. Picture
13. Stall Out
14. Reset