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

stop.drop.rewind - smoke signals

10/29/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
stop.drop.rewind

Smoke Signals
self-released; 2014

3.8 out of 5

By J. Simpson



Smoke Signals by Stop.Drop.Rewind. is a status report, a document of a particular place in a band's evolution as they sought to flesh out the bass-and-drums template.

Stop.Drop.Rewind. have described themselves as "when emo kids grow up and get jazz degrees," equal parts Fall Out Boy and '70s prog. The early '00s prog worship has created a generation who genuinely value musicianship and can actually play and write. Like many prog bands of any generation Stop.Drop.Rewind. write dense and unraveling sonic tapestries with very little repetition and hardly a hook or chorus in sight. Which makes Smoke Signals more like a short story or poetry collection over choppy guitars and powerhouse drumming.

Props to Stop.Drop.Rewind. for "Concrete Parts,” which attempts to describe the very confusing and layered modern world, daring to talk about social media in the context of leaving a lasting legacy and doing something meaningful with your life over a frayed Robert Fripp guitar line. It's actually not cringe worthy, in the way that some songs from a few years ago that mention MySpace are. It's just them being honest, looking at the world around them.

"Leonard Cohen" rounds things out on this short three-song EP, showing more heart and depth than the metallic bombast of the first two tracks. "Leonard Cohen" sounds like it could be an acoustic Death Cab For Cutie outtake as Kris Lohn's surreal and subjective lyrics spiral out like some half-remembered fever dream. Again, not exactly sing-along stuff but poetic and poignant, intimating at things to come.

Stop.Drop.Rewind. hail from Valparaiso, Indiana, where the duo moved for college, which is a cultural black hole in the middle of a cornfield so Stop.Drop.Rewind. deserve double props and undivided attention for striving towards such ambitious heights and overcoming the inertia of midwestern blindness.

Stop.Drop.Rewind. are more prog metal than emo, thankfully, so I can get on board. They still fall back on the heroic vocal harmony style that I've never really cared for but everything's well put together and the instrumental parts are mind-melting and well worth the cost of admission. 
Become A Fan
bandcamp
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

    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 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact