Posted on: July 24, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The sedate sounds of the disc’s opening track “Illuminati” really shows the band as nuanced and complicated, taking as much from Oasis as from Audio Adrenaline, a far cry from the Jimmy Eat World tag so often placed on them. The driving beat of the drums played by Scott work well with the very linear synth lines played during “Spotlights”; the vocals effortly lifts itself above the controlled chaos of the track.

The simplistic, Green Day meets Blink 182 progression of the guitars during “Bombs Away” provides the perfect vehicle for an ever-growing intensity that really manifests itself during the bouncy (and incredibly catchy) chorus. The funkified bass of “Run & Hide” gives a “New York Minute” feel to the early part of the track; Let Go’s use of this differing effect is absolutely essential for keeping this disc interesting at the halfway mark. Subsequent tracks show in Let Go a band that really does not feel the necessity of subjugating an entire album to one specific style; “No Drugs, No Alcohol” moves back to the period of The Beatles and early Bowie for aural influence. What does unite these tracks despite their diverse sound is a continual desire to ensure that listeners will be assaulted with the sweetest and most solid music that the band can come up with. Starting off “Almost, Always Maybe” with a guitar line crafted out of a material that is as addictive as crack, Let Go mix early Weezer with Jets to Brazil (and a little more of a drugged-up Green Day way of vocals) to ride this track into the minds and hearts of all listening in.

While the band goes for the road less traveled route in not letting the clapping gain dominance on the track, this decision really gives the band a unique sound. “Paper-Cuts” may be the most contemporary-sounding track on this album; Jamie’s vocals during this track really elicit comparisons to Alkaline Trio even as the rest of the band construct arrangements that bristle with an energy that is not often found. While there are hundreds of different subtle variations that fuel this disc, what really is Let Go’s strength I the time-less sound that they put forth. Tracks could have come out in 1990, 1998, or now and the end result is still the same: the tracks are radio-friendly while still not being suspect. A disc of hits in a period when the solitary single reigns.

Top Tracks: Run & Hide, Somewhere

Rating: 6.2/10

Let Go – S/T / 2005 The Militia Group / 12 Tracks / http://www.letgorock.com / http://www.themilitiagroup.com / Reviewed 06 October 2005

[JMcQ]

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