Spitalfield "Stop Doing Bad Things" CD
[Victory]
I try not to get my hopes up about things because it makes it easier to be slightly let down, and sadly that's the case here.  I shouldn't start on such a down note since this is a damn good record, but I very enthusiastically enjoyed these guys' last disc, and simply couldn't fathom why their significantly less talented labelmates were achieving so much greater success while Spitalfield ate the proverbial dust.  This time around, however, I enjoy it, I'm just not overwhelmed by any means.  I guess the songwriting is a little more "mature", bringing in more of a post-hardcore and modern rock (for lack of a better term) vibe to their brand of catchy emo/indie rock, but the songwriting doesn't stick to the ribs like it did on "Remember Right Now", you know?  Make no mistake, there are still some really catchy songs, take "Texa$ With a Dollar Sign" and "Gold Dust vs. State of Illinois", for example, but nothing's as wholly memorable to me.  As far as the whole "modern rock" thing goes, they're just fiddling with some droning guitar effects and that kind of thing, not to the trendy level that many of their contemporaries are, but those styles are seeping in nonetheless.  Elsewhere there's the more rocked out "Tampa Bum Blues" (not really my thing, but it has some energy), followed by "Restraining Order Blues" which contrasts laidback clean riffing and piano with a pretty punchy chorus.  "The Future is Now" is a more effective take on the uptempo rock, with "Van Buren" throwing in an efficiently subtle dash of keyboards - both songs flirting with a catchier direction that nicely blends their newer characteristics with those of the last disc.  "From the Desk of B. Larsen" meanders a little but cranks out a winner of a chorus (among the best herein, alongside that of "Texa$ With a Dollar Sign", which is probably the best song pound for pound), which counts for a lot.  I am pretty into the recording.  The bass tone kicks ass and plays a really significant role in adding density and doing its own thing, the vocals and guitars are bright and clear, the percussions sounds natural and has a good sense of density and force, etc.  I don't really have any complaints at all, it definitely sounds professional.  But their last record looked absolutely amazing, so I'm once again stunned that this one basically looks like crap.  The color scheme is unappealing, the imagery is unappealing, the band photos are lame... it's just sort of plain and ugly.  I've seen far, far worse, but... shit, these dudes deserve better than this.  The lyrics are a little better than average for what they cover, though: "Tomorrow is the same; it's just a repeat of today.  The smile and the wave.  Can we stay above the surface without feeling blasé?  Can we climb that stage again?  To entertain the ghosts, maybe ourselves..."  I don't know, I definitely, definitely like this record and still think this band deserves more success (which is probably coming to them soon enough), but I have to say that their last record was indeed better.  But this is growing on me, and I'll still be eager to see what they do next, so... I just hope they start to get more recognition.  They really got the short end of stick last time around. (7/10)
Running time - 37:31, Tracks: 11
[Notable tracks: Texa$ With a Dollar Sign, The Future is Now, Van Buren, From the Desk of B. Larsen]
Victory Records - http://www.victoryrecords.com

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