Shhh… I hear something. Sounds like a whispering in the background - "Voices"- and then it gets louder and louder… okay, nothing to worry about, it's only the "Calm Americans."

"Calm Americans?"

This is a terrific song by the way-one minute I'm thinking this is the new Moist record or something with that quiet piano intro and the next it's like, who let the dogs loose?

I don't think I've ever heard punk music set to such a soothing background… it's kinda like a musical chiropractic treatment-one minute you're being gently kneaded to a relaxed state, the next somebody's trying to shove you through the rollaway!

The song doesn't end… that's good because it's good-has a variety and strength that you don't often hear… it's like a surge of transcendence at the onset then awakening quickly, kicking on the pedals and this metamorphosis occurs.

They seem to come from the roots of hard core-Kentucky notwithstanding-while this sophomore deal is about two or three steps further up the ladder… there's a great deal of emotion here that goes well with the emotional impact they hit you with-dramatically stirring, somewhat feeble before the floods come crashing through.

It almost sounds like Morrissey fronting this post-hard core outfit-can you imagine?

And if you can imagine that, try imagining this-"Blessed by your Own Ghost," "Lipstick Stigmata," "Dying Midwestern," "Shallow like your Breath…"

It is difficult I know, yet that's the combination of what's happening on this most interesting genre gulping new piece of rock and roll sophistication designed all at once for the angst-driven teen spirit and their parental conservatives waiting in the wings of solitude…

Released by Revelation Records
P.O. Box 5232
Huntington Beach, CA
92615-5232
Phone (714) 842-7584
Fax (714) 375-4266

http://revelationrecords.com/

Review by Vinnie Apicella