Reviews: Split with Rydell, San Geronimo and A Rocket Sent To You
If you have seen a review not featured here, or have reviewed this or any other Engineer release yourself for your zine, please contact Engineer Records so we can add the review to our site, thanks.
Punk News (http://www.punknews.org)
Three emo bands on one cd, and you cant argue with that. UK hopefuls Rydell mixing it with two Yank bands and coming out of it smelling of roses is another reason to be chauvinistic (ok, maybe not.). And while it probably seems like I'm being as one eyed as Gerard Houllier after a blatant penalty isnt given in front of the Kop, Rydell give a really good account of themselves. Not a bit as sickly-sweet-like-too-many-Chupa-Chubs like so many emo bands in it for the cool, Rydell are unscrubbed enough to sound honest with a great sense of melody. 'Nothing by morning' and 'Margin Forever' are the two better tracks of their three, with the final one, the re-worked 'The Plot is Lost', giving you the uncomfortable feeling that you've heard it done before but you can't remember who did it. Rydell are not a million miles from Jawbreaker circa. '24 hour...' and elicit the same feelings of intimacy and fondness I get when I listen to that album. There is also a dectectable Britishness to their music, which always gets brownie points from me. On to the other two American bands, who I feel deserve a mention as well. ARSTY are slightly more impressive than SG, showing more of a Dischord influence. And while SG tend to draw things out a little more than neccessary after the promise of 'Better if you didn't', ARSTY mix riffage and delicay as well as Jamie Oliver whips up a korma..larrrrrvelleeyyy. So if you fall out with your missus you can always fall in love with these bands.
Martijn Welzen at Inside Knowledge (#5)
This 3-way split perfectly sumarises the talent Ignition has in stock. Three marvelous bands on one CD. Rydell has the honor to open with rocking emo. I was very excited about San Geronimo when I read it features ex-members of Lifetime, Drowningman and Jets To Brazil. You claerly hear the influences of those bands. San Geronimo is definately the top of this split album. The closing credits go to A Rocket Sent To You, who perfectly take this album to an end. a must have for fans of Texas is the Reason, Jimmy Eat World, the Get Up kids and Saves the Day.
Unfit For Consumption (#6)
Three way emo rock split spanning from the UK across the atlantic to the US. The UK's Rydell (Three tracks) kick things off and it comes as no suprise that they have had a split release with HotWaterMusic, such is their quality. It is emo-core, but in the honest emo sense as opposed to the crying into their soup type stuff. They sound quite like HWM in fact but the vocals are a lot smoother. I found myself singing the chorus to 'Nothing By Morning' constantly. Easily one of the more accomplished bands i've heard from the UK. I'm off to track down more by this band.
San Geronimo (three tracks) are the first of the two US bands to step to the plate. Featuring ex-members of Lifetime, Drowningman and Jets to Brazil (Wow!), they manage not to sound like any of those bands while still delivering powerful emo-core. Their song writing is solid and their experiences in the aforementioned bands shine through on thier sparkling offering. A Rocket Sent To You (four tracks) finish things off rather magnificently with a sound steeped in the Deep Elm crew, Garrison and Jawbox. their emotional and melodic but with plenty of bite and crunch. the guitar work and riffs are interesting stuff and their four song contribution is really strong. Three bands and ten songs equals one fantastic split!
Suspect Device (#39)
I like the idea behind this. It's like your normal two band split but on e better, freaking genius! All three bands tread a similar path, the post hardcore /indie rock /emo one. A well trodden path i know, but a good path. First up is those fine English chaps Rydell with three tracks - who are sounding better than ever i reckon. Two new tracks off the Memo Demo CDep and a re-recorded version of 'The Plot is Lost' off the album, with cool female vocals added to great effect. All three tracks are really strong. Next up is San Geronimo, a band who were good but never quite fulkfilled their potential and who have now split up. I think maybe having peaked (Ex-Lifetime)Martin on guitar built my hopes up a bit too high. Three good songs though, but they could have been great. Lasdt up is A Rocket Sent To You, never heard of these chaps before but daft name aside they are good and thye also get an extra track so they do four. Like i said, all three bands sound quite similar and thought they are all good it seems that they blend together a bit much. Maybe having a bit of variation in the sound would have made this CD a blooming stormer!
Very Distro And Mailorder (http://www.verydistro.com)
A 3 way split between three melodic emo / indie bands. You may remember Rydell (3 songs) from their split with Hot Water Music or their recent full-length on Cargo. San Geronimo (3 songs) feature ex-Lifetime and Drowningman members and have released 2 other eps. Newcomers A.R.S.T.Y. play 4 songs of pleasant, upbeat, mid-paced emo / indie rock with nice vocal harmonies.
UK Base (http://www.ukbase.org.uk)
This offering has been a long time in the making considering that Ignition are now on their 21st release and this is catalogued as number 5, but for the Hot Water Music, Small Brown Bike to Joshua fans out there this is worth the wait and has probably been on your want list for quite a while. Rydell kick things of with 3 tracks that show that these guys are developing their own sound a little more than their last CD. The first track 'Nothing By Morning' is a great fusion of Hot Water Music (especially as the vocals sound similar), mid season Fugazi and later Grade as there is a slight metallic edge to parts of this song, and to Rydell's credit I think this is the best track on here. The next track by them isn't so uplifting and plods on in a indie rock meets emo way in comparison to the first track. Their third offering 'The Plot Is Lost' is very novel as it has female backing vocals and the gruff vocals of the lead singer and the sweet melodies of the backing vocals really work together though this song is slightly tainted when she sings on her own as she can't carry it off. This track is a slow track but has a pissed off feel to it and I think we'll see a lot more people following the female backing vocals route. Now to San Geronimo offering. I've got their first release which sounds great, well it would - members of this band used to be in the mighty Lifetime, their Hello Bastards CD is one of my favourite releases. Their first song 'Better If You Didn't' gives this release a injection of pace and this song has a feel of Lifetime about it though more on the emo side of things, with lighter, thoughtful breaks. 'Rolling Blackouts' has a wonderfully catchy chorus that just makes you rock, whilst 'Stars And Anchors' is an emo rock track but with the bass player calling the shots and the whole song is based around the bass riffs supplied and this really works well, I've never heard anybody else do this before but I'm sure I will in the future. 3 great tracks but only what you come to expect. I've never heard of A Rocket Sent To You, but from the name you know their emo/indie rock title, the four tracks supplied by this band are cool but it's not anything you haven't heard before, but credit where credit's they write good songs and that's all that counts..oh yeah, they play them well, though I did find myself wanting to put the CD back to the more passionate San Geronimo or Rydell and that's the only criticism I would give this band the singer either doesn't sound like he means what he's singing or he just doesn't have a wide range vocal range, 'The Law Of Energy' is probably their best song on here as it has a varied feel to it, heavier and light moments. These are good songs and worth checking out.
Jason Schreurs at Suburban Voice
Okay, so split CDs are a pain, that's a given. Usually at least one of the bands reeks, leaving the better bands in a weird state of release limbo. Not only do the three bands on this split all sound good, they are almost equally enjoyable, which means none of them are punished by trigger-happy CD listeners. Rydell have improved by leaps and bounds since their Headhunter full-length, adding maturity and elegance to their Samiam-sounding emo rock. San Geronimo (ex-members of Lifetime/Jets to Brazil/Drowningman) aren't up to the level of their previous bands, but do manage to put an interesting spin on the basic emo formula. At best this is a more energetic Mineral. A Rocket Sent to You round things up with competent, driving emo in the vein of Garrison or Burning Airlines. Ignition definitely have their shit together to get three bands this good on one CD. Emo rock fans should put some lenses in those goofy horn-rimmed glasses and write down this address...
Scanner (#12)
Highly enjoyable 3-way split here featuring the bands in the title and totalling 10 tracks. The UK's own RYDELL kick things off. All 3 of their tracks were on the recent "memo demo" release including what would be their best track yet- "Nothing By Morning". Great empassioned vocals as ever backed by those expertly executed guitars. As usual, good stuff. SAM GERONIMO feature ex-LIFETIME members and as you may expect, they are the heaviest band on here. Their 3 tracks of tumultuous post-HC include "Rolling Blackouts" which is catchy while retaining a HC edge. Finally A ROCKET SENT TO YOU finish things off. They"re from Maryland and do, musically at least a very TEXAS IS THE REASON Kinda deal. They do it well ('the Law of Entrophy" in particular) but lack that amazing "X" factor of TEXAS.... Had in bucket loads. They"re very able and can create large, post-HC, sweeping soundscapes mixed with subtle melodies. 3 bands who really complement each other making a most welcome release. £8ppd from Ignition. Bargain.
Pointing The Finger (#4)
A three-way emo rock or indie split is not something I would normally go for but... Rydell, the only English band on the split, have three tracks. Quite upbeat and catchy pop tunes with rougher vocals that add the element of punk to them. Plus a re-work of 'the Plot Is Lost" with some added female harmonies. San Geronimo (US), ex-Jets To Brazil, with three tracks sounding like Jimmy Eat World with a bit more power behind them. I liked the guitar and the drumming that would stop then kick back in again nicely. A Rocket Sent To You (US), much the same with four tracks with a more mid-paced rhythm with deeply passionate vocals. Probably the best band on here, sounding like Texas Is The Reason. Overall, quite a sophisticated CD and essential for emo fans.
Lucy Raine at Rock UK (http://www.rockuk.ctint.co.uk)
Rydell are the only British band on this split EP from Ignition Records, the other two being American. They have their chance to impress with 3 tracks at the beginning of the CD. Opener "Nothing By Morning" is a five minute long slice of Kids Near Water-esque post-hardcore rock. It takes the typical route of a fairly fast opening three-quarters, then a slow bit, then fast again. Despite being generic this is a good song that leads you into the album well. The first few seconds of radio fuzz bring us nicely into the melodic guitars and simple but effective bass line, which leaves a solid grounding under the more complicated guitar parts. The dual vocals give the song a fuller feel and suit it well. One thing that could improve this song would be cutting it down a bit, as it tends to drag slightly and would sound better if it was shorter and more immediate.
The second track "Margin Forever" begins with the ubiquitous mildly distorted guitars that seem to be all over the place at the moment and a riff that could have come off any emo album this year. However, once the song gets going you could be forgiven for tapping your foot to the damn catchy tune which is actually pretty good. The bass line takes precedence over the simpler guitars this time and the singular (quite nasal) vocals sound good. They're not amazing but suit this type of music well. Towards the end of the song the guitars pick up again and leave on a more up-tempo note. This song is definitely an improvement on the first and at around a minute shorter does not lose your attention before the end. 'the Plot Is Lost" is fairly typical emo fare, beginning with piano/keyboards leading into a soft guitar riff and barely audible bass. There is also a female vocalist on this track, which adds to the tender atmosphere. Unfortunately, the female vocal solo is mildly irritating and the song would have been better without this inclusion. However, the two contrasting voices do sound good together and this is a good ending to Rydell's part on the CD... San Geronimo also get three tracks on this release. Its fairly average rock/emo/punk however and there is nothing that makes them especially stand out above the crowd. Its not a bad attempt but not exactly ground breaking. The production is also a bit shoddy and everything sounds muffled. A Rocket Sent To You have four tracks to offer us and are less generic than San Geronimo. Also following the emo/rock route they do have more of an eclectic and individual sound, which is refreshing. Overall this is a good showcase for the three bands and stands up well against a lot of the albums and compilations around at the moment. I enjoyed this CD and I would recommend it to fans of bands in the vein of Kids Near Water/Copperpot Journals etc.
Nick at A short fanzine about Rocking (#4)
I could be really lazy and label all three bands on this split as "emo" but I wont, instead the 10 tracks here- all of which are excellent by the way- all rock in a understated punky-indie-rock kinda way. First up are England's very own Rydell who rock out in a Get up kids-esque style on their first two tracks, with "Nothing by morning" being the best, then their third track 'the plot is lost" with its" female vocals also impresses. San Geronimo contain various former members of the US "emo" bands and straddle the middle ground between say, Get up Kids and the more rocky like s of Hot Water Music, all three tracks make you want to seek out more. Finishing up A Rocket Sent To You are perhaps the quietest and least punky of the three acts on offer but no less effective and impressive for their lack of bombast. All in all a wicked introduction to 3 very interesting bands, I hate to come over all patriotic but of the three, Rydell impressed me the most but all show great promise.
Rich T at Small Sailor (#10)
This one is certainly for the emo kids. Three bands for you here. Rydell from kent, didn't dissapoint, 3 songs of Hot Water Music influenced rhythms. San Geronimo, ex-Lifetime/Drowningman, sound familiar to Rydell, but slower and with less of a hardcore edge, and finally A Rocket Sent to you (they have to be emo with a name like that!!!), slower than any of the above, and leaning even further towards that dreaded emo sound!! Saves the day meets Texas Is the Reason.
Dance Of Days
Rydell. Hm, yes. They can hardly do anything wrong in my book, although I have to admit that their best stuff is the acoustic seven inch that I released on my own label. This is no self advertisement, it's just how I feel. Their other stuff just doesn't excite me as much - just like the first two songs on this CD that just don't seem to go anywhere. 'the Plot Is Lost", however, is one gem of an emo tune with piano intro and charming female vocals in the background. Definitely the winner here. The first thing you always hear about San Geronimo is that there are ex-members of Lifetime, Drowningman and Jets To Brazil in this band. Well, there must be a reason why they're not in any other band anymore. Sometimes they sound a bit like Samiam which is a nice thing until you realize that they sound like the not so very good old Samiam songs. This music is just there and that's just not enough. I wouldn't have even recognized that A Rocket Sent To You is a different band if it wasn't for the vocals. There is no change of pace or anything, and they sound exactly like a mix between Rydell and San Geronimo. Mellow rock music with dominant crashing cymbals, making me itchy and nervous. No lyrics for any of the bands which is a huge no-no, artwork that hurts my eyes (even though there were "art directors"... oh come on) and an overall feeling that this just isn't very good. What's the problem? Are you all afraid to rock a little bit harder and lose all the cute emo girls in the audience?
