"Modern Art & Politics" is the debut full-length from Australia's Arrows and the first release I've ever heard from the very promising Hobbledehoy Records. The band bio on the label's website gives off the impression that they'd rather not be referred to as "emo" ("Arrows formed in 2006 out of a common love of No Idea and Crank Records bands often described by the three-letter 'e' curse word"), but... ummm, to my ears this is emo/indie rock in the absolute best way. This is the real deal: The kind of "emo" that reminds me of what was called "emo" when I was in college from 1995—1999. You know, the quality stuff. The stuff that has actual emotional and musical substance. The bands that use softly sung, heartfelt vocals placed deep in the mix amongst bright, swirling clean guitars and pulsing basslines with warm, spacious mixes and natural recording tones. The stuff that utilizes stripped down song structures that rely predominantly on feeling and a somber sense of restrained consistency that brings very little distortion into play. Surprisingly enough the 10 tracks herein run nearly an hour total, as the majority of the compositions surge back and forth and wind around for more than five or six minutes apiece, but everything falls into place quite nicely. I just noticed that the label's online store succinctly describes the album in bullshit-free terms as "10 tracks of gently wandering guitars, gorgeous twinkles, and desperate vocals from one of Brisbane's otherwise best kept secrets", and I couldn't agree more. However you want to classify it (if at all), everything about this album feels completely authentic, and the fact of the matter is the "three-letter 'e' curse word" is simply not a bad thing when it's pulled off this fucking brilliantly. I'm always thrilled to be introduced to bands who are still exploring this realm of music the way it always should've been done, and Arrows is unquestionably one of those bands...
Arrows "Someone You Knew But You've Hardely Met"
Arrows "She Wore a Cabernet Smile"
Get It
Hobbledehoy Records (CD)
Amazon.com (mp3)
iTunes (mp3)
Comments
Huge fan of bands like this, and these guys sound great! Definitely need this album.
4.7.2009 | By Ryan Fairfield
always happy when you review some emo stuff. if your digging this i recommend jeniferever. “iris” and “choose a bright morning” are my favorite releases from them
4.7.2009 | By thom
Not worth it.
4.8.2009 | By Tabiji
What’s not worth what?
4.8.2009 | By Andrew Aversionline
jenniferever? terrible name.. i always avoided them for that.
4.8.2009 | By incarnate
Excellent stuff. I hate comparisons, but I was instantly reminded of American Football. Same kind of swirly guitars, soft vocals and the overall feel. Good call on it sounding genuine. I’m all over the artwork as well. Great review, keep the “E curse word” stuff comin’.
“Jeniferever”?! Ugh. No way I’m checking out even a note of that shit.
4.8.2009 | By Chris
haha. you dudes are funny. they came on last fm so i didn’t prejudge them by their awful name. i can almost guarantee you’d be surprised (in a good way) if you actually listened to it
4.9.2009 | By thom
judging band by name is complete bullshit and not worth of true music fan…
4.10.2009 | By Carlos
Excellent recommendation Andrew! I’m getting a bit of a Sunny Day Real Estate vibe from the compositions, but with a more mature vocal sound, which I think really benefits the contemplative sound the band is going for. Hobbledehoy Records has posted this and other parts of their discography as a free download at Gimme Sound.com, an online digital music provider which pays artists through advertising revenues that lets them provide the music for free to site members.
8.3.2009 | By Howard