Unlike everything else I've heard from this label, these Belgians play some rocked out post-hardcore that definitely has some potential. Musically it's a blend of the post-hardcore thing with some indie rock type stuff, it's not poppy or anything I would refer to as "emo" though. They keep it pretty far towards the rock angle, and the vocals are pretty gruffly sung/yelled, which I think is really cool and helps give the band a more unique style. The chorus to "Speaker's Corner" has a catchier sort of ring to it, which I love, and it might be cool if they worked that type of thing into their songs more often. A lot of the Shades Apart-esque chord progressions and vocal arrangements in "New Song for an Old Ache" are pretty damn cool, too. The production only needs very minor tweaking. I think the vocals sound pretty damn good (though maybe they could blend in with the music more), as do the drums (which are really natural and crisp), and the bass holds its own alright. The guitars have an audible texture, but could maybe stand to be smoother and brighter. I think adding more definition to the bass to bring it up to the center of the mix might also help to push things forward and provide more power since a lot of the songs are driven by rhythm. The packaging looks good. I like the dirty textures, and some of the photography is awesome as well. The lyrics aren't really exciting or anything, just your usual tales of dealing with relationships and life's day to day pains, etc. You've seen similar topics covered in this manner before, no doubt. Not bad. I really do think that a big, resonant, wide open production would make a huge different for this band. I know that budgetary constraints can be hard to overcome, and admittedly there are a couple of songs on this CD that just aren't that hot, but I feel like the band will likely grow with time, so I'll be curious to hear their future efforts.
[Genet]
Running time - 30:39, Tracks: 9
[Notable tracks: Sunbeam Relationship, Speaker's Corner, New Song for an Old Ache]
Genet Records - http://www.genetrecords.com
