Garrison "The Silhouette" CD
[Revelation]
This EP is apparently the companion CD to "The Model" CD EP that came out on Iodine Recordings, which I haven't heard, so how the two compare or relate I can't say. "The Silhouette", on the other hand, is yet another step in a slightly different direction for Garrison, taking their abrasive brand of indie rock and adding in a few more straightforward rock 'n' roll rhythms, a slightly more obvious sense of melody on occasion, etc. This band is unusual in that each time I hear a new record from them, I wouldn't particularly say to myself, "Ahhh, this is Garrison," if I didn't know who I was listening to, which is strange as they never take huge leaps, nor have they ever totally reinvented their sound... but nonetheless... somehow they keep the listener on his or her toes. I'd also say there's more of a post-hardcore influence at work here, what with "God is Not on Our Side" sounding like a blend of Quicksand meets Cave In. "We Know Our Demographic" is the definite winner, far more energetic and catchy than the other tracks, making for a really memorable listen. The band even uses Hammond organ, synths, baritone guitar, and noisescapes this time out, granted the most notable use of such, "The Closer", is the worst song on the disc because it feels disjointed compared to everything else. But hey, they're trying something new, so... whatever. The production is good, but could be better. I think the vocals stand apart from the music a little bit too much, and they sound too dry. I love the vocal harmonies, but the singing really needs to blend in better. I think the rhythm section sounds excellent, though. I might do something with the guitars to make them brighter, but I think the handling of the vocals is the most important thing to nail down. The layout is pretty simple. The outer booklet has color screenshots that look like oddly cropped images of TV news anchors, and there are small headless images of similar figures overlaid on each panel as well. Inside the lyrics and other information are presented in plain white type over a straight black background. I like some of the lyrics. Most of the content deals with personal issues, though at times the issues are really a spin on current events. "With all the headlines caving in, So sick to death of suffering, The streets we walk are littered, rain-soaked, ancient, The life I lost is now regret, And all my friends have left, Instead of burning down the framework we grew up in..." This is a really short EP, but it could be a promising hint of things to come. Portions of the disc are somewhat bland, which had me worried, but their newfound strengths make up for that, and if they continue to build on such strengths they could really hit the bull's-eye next time out. (6/10)
Running time - 14:53, Tracks: 5
[Notable tracks: Everything You Want, We Know Our Demographic]
Revelation Records - http://www.revelationrecords.com

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