Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

How Words Sound - Floor Sitter

7/16/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
How Words Sound

Floor Sitter
self-released; 2015

3.7 out of 5

By Jamie Robash

San Francisco based rock band How Words Sound recorded their debut EP Floor Sitter off the cuff. As the story goes native Texan Blaine Billingsley had recently moved to San Francisco. After years of studying classical music in college Billingsley was suddenly introduced to bands like Super Furry Animals, Os Mutantes, Stephen Malkmus, Ty Segall and also got reacquainted with the hokey ‘90s alternative rock band The Presidents of the United States of America.

When an old college friend told Billingsley that he would be passing through town, Billingsley booked some studio time and assembled some musicians with the intent being to record some songs in tribute to The Presidents of the United States of America. The friend never ended up showing up but Billingsley forged ahead with his crew of Max Schwartz, Jason Countryman, Brandon Martinez and Ian Pellicci.

Floor Sitter opens with the protracted “Levity Will Have Gotten Us Through Everything” which seems already a nod to the EP’s mawkish inspiration. Musically it’s acoustic low-fi grunge-pop; the rhythms are catchy and there is a nice addition of restrained synthesizers. “Never Forget Your Beginner's Spirit” is a long and rumbling rocker with a post rock jam session in the middle. The title track comes closest to the power chord chugging of The Presidents of the United States of America although its structure seems a bit forced as it begins in that vein of happy pop and then droops down to wallow in an unrequired sadness only to perk up again near the end. 

I think Floor Sitter is a very good record, unfortunately though there is nothing remarkable about it, nothing to set it apart from all the other very good records by musicians both well known and relatively unknown. It then simply comes down to a problem of a market that is simply oversaturated by so much sameness. And more and more lately albums of this sort seem to show up like flowers delivered to a beloved hospital patient. At first there is feeling of being overcome by such thoughtfulness, though after a time one becomes sedate and utters “Just put it over there with the others.” But perhaps that doesn’t matter to How Words Sound. Floor Sitter’s existence may suffice its makers as a record of a personal epoch. “Don't take these days away from me” Billingsley repeats on the albums closer “Slower Haight,” a play on words to the San Fran neighborhood he spent his early 20’s living in. Well now that those days are on record, nobody can.
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band
© Divide and Conquer 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact