I'm going to make this quick. Steve Albini famously said that he would record anyone who asked -- .22 represent 'anyone who asked'. Think vanilla, mid-90s indie rock played by your local state college bar band. 15 tracks in 54 minutes make The Patriots an excruciating listen. I'll be honest: I got up to track 11 and gave up. This is safe, bland, boring, faceless, hook-less, predictable tripe that will no doubt end up in college radio crap bins all across the country. The only memorable tune, "School Song," gets by on a neat little distorted vocal hook but still comes up short in the content department. If I should be criticizing anyone it should be Albini for that weak-ass drum sound!
In all seriousness, folks, I honestly don't like writing scathing reviews like these. If it were up to me, every little band whose record found its way into my Discman would get a glowing review and re-invigorate my faith in Rock N' Roll. I suppose I feel a little guilty putting this band down like some old, mangled steed. My major qualm with this record -- aside from the fact that its songs are entirely unremarkable -- is that it just has no personality. What I mean is that when I listen to any piece of music, I feel like there should be a certain quality inherent in the music that gives me a reason why I should be listening to this and nothing else. When I listen to a record, I want the artist to reach out, shake me around, and give me a fucking reason why I should listen to their music! Even if I don't necessarily enjoy what I'm hearing, I would nevertheless respect the artist for coming across in such a way. The problem I have with bands like .22 is that they're just not giving me a reason to listen.
I'm going to make this quick. Steve Albini famously said that he would record anyone who asked -- .22 represent 'anyone who asked'. Think vanilla, mid-90s indie rock played by your local state college bar band. 15 tracks in 54 minutes make The Patriots an excruciating listen. I'll be honest: I got up to track 11 and gave up. This is safe, bland, boring, faceless, hook-less, predictable tripe that will no doubt end up in college radio crap bins all across the country. The only memorable tune, "School Song," gets by on a neat little distorted vocal hook but still comes up short in the content department. If I should be criticizing anyone it should be Albini for that weak-ass drum sound!
In all seriousness, folks, I honestly don't like writing scathing reviews like these. If it were up to me, every little band whose record found its way into my Discman would get a glowing review and re-invigorate my faith in Rock N' Roll. I suppose I feel a little guilty putting this band down like some old, mangled steed. My major qualm with this record -- aside from the fact that its songs are entirely unremarkable -- is that it just has no personality. What I mean is that when I listen to any piece of music, I feel like there should be a certain quality inherent in the music that gives me a reason why I should be listening to this and nothing else. When I listen to a record, I want the artist to reach out, shake me around, and give me a fucking reason why I should listen to their music! Even if I don't necessarily enjoy what I'm hearing, I would nevertheless respect the artist for coming across in such a way. The problem I have with bands like .22 is that they're just not
giving me a reason to listen.
1. Tass
2. School Song
3. Are You Still There, Cherie?
4. Where The Water Meets The Sky
5. Cropduster
6. This Is Distance
7. The Devil's Dictionary
8. U-Enemy
9. The Claw Of The Raging Bear
10. Detective
11. Burlap
12. Bent In Bad Weather
13. Soon
14. Young Men And Fire
More about: 22
