Posted on: August 18, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

“The Part Of Me You’ve Thrown Away” is bound to be one of the biggest tracks of this summer, as it has a catchy hook and a sunny disposition. This is not to say that the rest of the tracks on “Overblown” can be written off, but the fact that Madrepore immediately hooks listeners in at that early spot of the disc bodes well for the rest of the album.

With songs like “Can’t Get You Out”, the band moves away from the pop-rock/punk sound that they began “Overblown” with and moves further toward an older Foo Fighters meets Incubus type of sound. The style of music approached by Madrepore on “Overblown” is something that is heard all of the time on modern rock radio stations but has not had a fresh hand creating it for the last decade. With Madrepore, the idea is clear that the band really knows their Toad The Wet Sprockets, Weezers, Nirvanas and the like; however, the band has enough talent to link what could conceivably be a dated sound to the most current developments today. The bass line that starts off “Anomie” is a direct descendent from the Cure’s early classic “The Lovecats”; the vocals that ultimately tumble from the lips of Madrepore have a glint of the glory that Robert Smith originally placed down.

“Dejame Ser” is a track that still has some of the driving intensity that presented itself at other points during “Overblown”, but the more nuanced sound of Madrepore during the track will simultaneously reach more individuals and also allow listeners to see the feauty of the band in a completely new light. The use of a second language during this track may confuse English-only speaks, but the music that is put forth is an universal language. A listener will understand that the music laid down by the band is tied to some form of longing. One of the great things about “Overblown” is that Madrepore jumps through so many different music styles and arrangements that individuals can listen over and over without things getting stale. In much the same way, the disc is laid out in a way that makes the fifty-minute runtime into something that feels considerably longer. Madrepore is a diverse band to say the least, and while they may not get the radio play they truly deserve, the tracks on “Overblown” are at a level that individuals should perk up and take notice.

Top Tracks: Put A Hole Through Me, Pictures

Rating: 6.2/10

Madrepore – Overblown / 2006 Lukay / 13 Tracks / http://www.madrepore.com / Reviewed 30 March 2006

[JMcQ]

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