Rosematter – Shooter’s Gonna Choke (Oort Records)

The only time I got excited while listening to Shooter’s Gonna Choke was when the singer mentioned “Newark” in one of the songs, but the feeling of Jersey pride was gone when she added “Delaware” right after it. Rosematter is an emo-punk band that didn’t do much for me. Verdict? Too damn cliché. They sound like a band that should’ve been on Drive-Thru earlier this decade but never made it. The record is very melodic and very poppy. It’s very well produced but it just lacks substance. It sounds like they took some Hardcore riffs, de-fanged them, and turned the distortion way down. One of the record’s problems is the lyrics about metaphorical self mutilation (“I want to rip my heart right from my chest and with it pounding in my hands scream, ‘I don’t need this anymore’”). Every time a band goes this route it always seems like a lazy cop out in the lyrics department. Rosematter just reminds me of the bands that would play those crappy shows high schools would put on in the gym at night where 15 bands would play. There would only be one you thought was sort of decent and then you realized “Why the hell did I come to a show at a goddamned high school?” If you know what I’m talking about you’ll know why to stay away. – Fernando Vázquez

 

Rat Wakes Red – Energy Garage (www.ratdisk.com)

This EP/DVD set features four tracks of VERY mellow and slow-paced indie rock as well as a DVD of the video for their song “Anyway Now.” These songs would probably feel at home in some hip and quiet coffee shop. Musically, Energy Garage’s soft delivery reminds me of some of the slower songs from Jimmy Eat World’s earlier days like “Table and a Light.” But the mood is broken, however, by the third track, called “Be Kissed.” James Raftery (guitarist, pianist, throatist and main creative force behind Rat Wakes Red) threw in a more upbeat, goofy-sounding song that makes it feel like…umm…have you ever downshifted from 5th straight to 2nd by accident and spilled your drink in your lap? It kinda feels like that (the way your transmission must’ve felt is a different story…or album review in this case). But the lights dim once again, the tempo is scaled back and you can snuggle back up with your mint-vanilla-mocha chai in time for the closer “Anyway Now.” – Fernando Vázquez

 

The Swimmers - Fighting Trees (www.maddragonrecords.com)

This band sounds like they should hail from the pages of NME in England rather than from our cheesesteak-loving neighbor across the Delaware. This Philly quartet channels the style that made Elliot Smith a legend and The Shins indie-rock darlings into twelve tracks of tunes that would be right at home in some Wes Anderson flick. Speaking of the late Elliot Smith, you can tell singer/guitarist Steve Yutzy is a fan because he imitates Smith’s vocal style. The vocals may be reminiscent of Elliot Smith but the songwriting is way less depressing. The songs are mainly (“push it in and out at a…”) medium paced pop songs with a strong Beatles (post-Rubber Soul) influence. No real musical ground is broken with “Fighting Trees” but hell, the tunes aren’t half bad. – Fernando Vázquez

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