Adelphia is the new sophomore release from Sacramento Emo band A Skylit Drive.
The vocals are definitely the centrepiece of the new album. Lead singer Michael "Jag" Jagmin possesses a high pitched voice which gives the songs a distinctive character. Unfortunately where bands like Jaguar Love succeed with a vocalist like this, A Skylit Drive fails miserably. For some reason known only to the band, they insist on including screaming from a much deeper voice on nearly every track. This makes Jagmin's vocals sound even more high pitched to the point of being comical. It's like having Alvin and the Chipmunks singing with Satan giggling in the background. Atrocious.
The songwriting is also blase. The lyrics are stereotypical Emo toss-offs without much in the way of originality or wit. The backing music is the usual generic alternative rock that usually accompanies songs like these.
Because of the subpar songwriting, it's difficult to describe the playing as anything other that competent. It's hard to tell how good the guitarist and rhythm section are when the songs they are trying to perform are this shoddy.
There are a couple of instances that aren't horrible. "Eva The Carrier" is passable hard rock with a decent hook, while the album closer "See You Around" is actually fairly catchy.
Unfortunately, that's about all the good that can be said about A Skylit Drive. They'd probably get another 1.5 points on the rating if they dropped the knuckle-headed screaming gimmick.
A Skylit Drive plays Arrow Hall in Mississauga on July 10th as part of the Vans Warped Tour. (I suggest you skip their set).
Best tracks: "Eva The Carrier", "See You Around"
Track listing for Adelphia:
- Prelude To A Dream
- Those Cannons Could Sink A Ship
- Heaven
- Running With The Light
- Eva The Carrier
- Worlds End In Whispers, Not Bangs
- The Boy Without A Demon
- Thank God It's Cloudy Because I'm Allergic To The Sunlight
- Air The Enlightenment
- The Children Of Adelphia
- I Swear This Place Is Haunted
- It's Ironic, It's Obvious
- See You Around
2.5/10
2 praise/complaints:
what's comical is your complete lack of music knowledge.
If you call this album music I wish I could erase the knowledge of its existence from my brain.
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