This CD collects the tracks from The Pine's "s/t" LP and "s/t" debut 7" all in one nice little package. The style is very similar to the "Lead Blocks for Feet" LP in its early R.E.M. meets older Jawbreaker sort of vibe, but with this one the recording's a bit clearer. Percussion and vocals tend to dominate, with a great bass presence pounding away at all times, and guitars swirling around the rhythm section. The vocals are pretty warm though, so even though they're a bit more audible than the guitars in many instances, they're not really out in front or anything. The material is still somewhat raw, but very dense, and that density is definitely a favorable trait. The 7" tracks have louder guitars with a more abrasive texture, but their approach remains unwavering (and not in a bad way). "Fall Drawings" is much longer and quieter than the other tracks, driven by clean guitars and vocals with a little bit of bass (no drums). It's not always the strongest foundation for the vocals to work within, but it does provide a nice change of pace. "Shovelglove" is similar, but brings in acoustic guitars and percussion, so the lush tones make the composition more effective. Very nice work. The packaging here is also similar to that of their LP, as the CD comes in a screenprinted gatefold digipack sleeve with high contrast black artwork/band photos and handwritten text. Inside is a xeroxed insert with a high contrast band photo on one side, and lyrics and other information on the other side. I can't really make out even one line of lyrics here because the writing is tiny, but I would have to assume that the content is still personal and along the same lines as their other work. All in all this is another strong release from a curious band that definitely has their own sort of sound going on. It's not for everyone, but I can appreciate their work.
[Alone]
Running time - 40:36, Tracks: 14
[Notable tracks: Slug, My Two Feet, Shovelglove]
Alone Records - http://www.alonerecords.com
