Post by thesoundmonitor on Sept 19, 2004 5:13:55 GMT -5
LIARS ACADEMY
Demons
(Equal Vision)
According to the liner notes, the process leading up to the recording and release of Liars Academy’s sophomore album, Demons was wrought with creative lows and interpersonal challenges. So much so, the band were on the verge of break-up and the subsequent initiation into the hallowed ‘Gone Too Soon’ Hall of Fame.
Thankfully, the band persisted, made some hard decisions and grew as a unit. They scrapped the songs already written and started afresh, resulting in a testament to perseverance and emotive honesty.
Aptly titled, Demons is an exorcism of sorts, as the quartet remove testosterone-built facades and bravely reveal their pains and torments. Indeed, the majority of tracks here feature the desperate lyrics of vocalist/guitarist Ryan Shelkett, as he questions his role and worth on this mortal coil.
Opening with ‘Microtron’ Shelkett asks the question most introspective musos would at some point: “Try to make sense out of this instrument / Try to make a sound that is interesting / I ain’t charming anyone.”, while track 2 quotes “Well I ‘God damn the world’ again / Dying as fast as I can.” This is pain at its barest and most honest.
Despite this painful introspection, the band do refrain from a descent in depression, with musically upbeat numbers such as ‘Saturday Night’ and ‘People Are Games’ – the former reminiscent of Angels of the Silences-era Counting Crows (though, decidedly more punchy), the latter akin to Maroon 5 (again with significantly more punch).
Devoid of infantile teenage angst, Demons is an album that musically treads the rock boards containing a touch of country twang and a truckload of simple-but-effective rock. Appealing to fans of early Goo Goo Dolls, Husker Du, Lucero or the aforementioned period of the Crows, Demons is somewhat a departure for the punk-soaked Equal Vision label – however it’s raw honesty should still please the open-minded and open-hearted.
By Warren Wheeler
Demons
(Equal Vision)
According to the liner notes, the process leading up to the recording and release of Liars Academy’s sophomore album, Demons was wrought with creative lows and interpersonal challenges. So much so, the band were on the verge of break-up and the subsequent initiation into the hallowed ‘Gone Too Soon’ Hall of Fame.
Thankfully, the band persisted, made some hard decisions and grew as a unit. They scrapped the songs already written and started afresh, resulting in a testament to perseverance and emotive honesty.
Aptly titled, Demons is an exorcism of sorts, as the quartet remove testosterone-built facades and bravely reveal their pains and torments. Indeed, the majority of tracks here feature the desperate lyrics of vocalist/guitarist Ryan Shelkett, as he questions his role and worth on this mortal coil.
Opening with ‘Microtron’ Shelkett asks the question most introspective musos would at some point: “Try to make sense out of this instrument / Try to make a sound that is interesting / I ain’t charming anyone.”, while track 2 quotes “Well I ‘God damn the world’ again / Dying as fast as I can.” This is pain at its barest and most honest.
Despite this painful introspection, the band do refrain from a descent in depression, with musically upbeat numbers such as ‘Saturday Night’ and ‘People Are Games’ – the former reminiscent of Angels of the Silences-era Counting Crows (though, decidedly more punchy), the latter akin to Maroon 5 (again with significantly more punch).
Devoid of infantile teenage angst, Demons is an album that musically treads the rock boards containing a touch of country twang and a truckload of simple-but-effective rock. Appealing to fans of early Goo Goo Dolls, Husker Du, Lucero or the aforementioned period of the Crows, Demons is somewhat a departure for the punk-soaked Equal Vision label – however it’s raw honesty should still please the open-minded and open-hearted.
By Warren Wheeler