The line between new and traditional brands of emo is usually distinct enough to allow for rapid consolidation of bands into one style or another. This is not the case with Shinky, who really comes through with a brand of music that simultaneously recalls a list of bands as diverse as they comes, from Jane’s Addiction to Appleseed Cast and even towards newer acts like The Black Maria. The only thing that really becomes a major factor on this disc is the tendency that Shinky has to make arrangements on “Forgive, Forget, Repeat” sound virtually indistinguishable from each other. Thus, while the average track length is around 2:30, individuals feel as if they are listening to a ten-minute long composition, which will undoubtedly challenge the patience of anyone, even if they are the most avid of fans.
Shinky does break free of this rut during their penultimate track “For What It’s Worth”, which extends the composition by two mintues and brings to bear a much more rock-based delivery. The use of very progressive riffs (not Rush-progressive, but rather very organically-fitting riffs) during this track really is a nice evolution of the band’s sound. Now, Shinky has been around since 2000 and “Forgive, Forget, Repeat” is a disc that shows a band that is comfortable with themselves, but the music within really shows a band that is at an important crux at their careers. They have perfected the sound present on the first half of the disc, but it really is only during the second half of this album that Shinky really impress their listeners with a fresh, new sound.
There might be some weakness in approaching a slightly different (but completely new) style, but it is absolutely essential for a band to continually refine and change their sound. Shinky has the teamwork and the technical ability down, but if one was going to see one thing as a weakness during “Forgive, Forget, Repeat” it would have to be this lack of new ground broached. The disc may start off with a high-octane ploy to incorporate the largest amount of listeners into this disc, but it is during the last two tracks on this disc (For What It’s Worth and the hidden track) that individuals see exactly why they should continue to listen to Shinky. This album is essential, even if it is only to see the progression they have made from this disc when the full-length comes out.
Top Track: For What It’s Worth
Rating: 5.1/10
Shinky – Forgive, Forget, Repeat / 2005 Self / 6 Tracks / http://www.shinky.net / [email protected] / Reviewed 10 September 2005