The 101 - Green Street
This is the debut effort of the latest band from the founder of seminal mid-90's emo band Christie Front Drive (and more recently, the too dreamy Antartica). While the vocals are delivered by the same person, giving fans of Christie Front Drive a point for comparison, I can honestly say there's very little resemblance between the two bands. Apart from a penchant for delivering a steady sound by building on a particular riff, the 101 sound could more easily be compared to a less aggressive New Sweet Breath. That means dynamic pop songs heavy on driving guitar hooks and vocals lower in the mix that really let the music shine. Nothing from the sometimes plodding, mellow Christie Front Drive days remain.
Whereas New Sweet Breath relied more on speed, the 101 prefers a tight mid-paced sound punctuated with liberal downstroking reminiscent of the first Hot Snakes album but no where near as heavy. Now the astute reader will notice I said this band is not heavy and not fast so if that's the only cup of tea you drink then there's lots of other records reviewed here to punish your eardrums.
For those still with us, it's hard to think of another pop record in recent memory that can hook you in more completely than this record. It seems like almost every song has an instantly memorable riff that in combination with the steady, if not urgent, vocals creates a powerful impression on the listener. This pace and mood is kept throughout the album with the last track clocking in at upwards of seven minutes but always keeping you hooked in. This record is definitely getting a ton of play at my house and I sincerely hope the 101 is more prolific than his previous bands.
Whereas New Sweet Breath relied more on speed, the 101 prefers a tight mid-paced sound punctuated with liberal downstroking reminiscent of the first Hot Snakes album but no where near as heavy. Now the astute reader will notice I said this band is not heavy and not fast so if that's the only cup of tea you drink then there's lots of other records reviewed here to punish your eardrums.
For those still with us, it's hard to think of another pop record in recent memory that can hook you in more completely than this record. It seems like almost every song has an instantly memorable riff that in combination with the steady, if not urgent, vocals creates a powerful impression on the listener. This pace and mood is kept throughout the album with the last track clocking in at upwards of seven minutes but always keeping you hooked in. This record is definitely getting a ton of play at my house and I sincerely hope the 101 is more prolific than his previous bands.
