This CD comes free inside the first 200 copies of the self-titled Flatpoint A/V 7", which is a pretty damn good deal if you ask me. The material on the CD is a little bit older than the songs on the 7", but the sound is similar (see above review). The songs are perhaps a little bit faster and slightly heavier in tone, but the style is still a somewhat catchy and energetic indie rock/hardcore combination. "How I Defeated Globalism in One Day" is one of the more dynamic tracks. The riffing is more rhythmic and slightly more intricate with some great bass runs and unusual dissonant chords. I also enjoy the tactful shifts between louder portions and slightly calmer areas. "Deploy and Annoy" is similar in that it has some staggered rhythms and some of the playing is darker and definitely jumps out when compared to the other songs. In "102" there's definitely a heavy Jawbreaker rasp to the vocals, and I love the way there are tons of guitars layered over a nice feedback hum in the background... no drums or anything kick in until the very end. The production is pretty damn good. The drums sound great, the bass is audible, the guitars are pretty clear despite having a lot of midrange tones going on, and the vocals rest ever so slightly out in front of the music. It's a little bit raw, but it works. I think they would sound awesome with a perfectly polished sound on some levels, but at the same time there's something about the warmth of this recording that does them well. The layout here is awesome and mirrors that of the 7". The CD comes in a small sleeve printed on matte brown paper, and the lyric insert folds over and is printed on the same textured gray paper as the 7" insert. The imagery is also very similar, although some different fonts are used, and the CD sleeve is hand-numbered. This time the lyrics mix the personal with the political, so some tracks are one or the other, and some blend the two. "Just make it work phonetically. We need to occupy all the space their money can buy. Out with the old, out with the bold. Just making this world a safer place for that pretty face. You love us so much you'd be willing to bleed us dry. Take good care of us. It makes it easier." I think I like these songs a little bit better than the 7", but it's all really solid material. What I said before still stands, I really hope this band gets the attention that they deserve, because they'll do great things...
[Redundant Audio International]
Running time - 27:25, Tracks: 11
[Notable tracks: Just Because She Broke Up With You, How I Defeated Globalism in One Day, Deploy and Annoy, 102]
Redundant Audio International - [email protected]
