Merchant Ships - For Cameron

For years screamo disgusted me. It wasn't just the lack of musicianship and quality songwriting in the genre's commercial bands (Bring Me The Horizon, Brokencyde, etc. Yeah I know not screamo but they are called screamo and it's all I knew at the time.), but also the fans who attached themselves to it, people who looked for sympathy, who looked for problems, who cursed their parents and their middle-class backround and wore too much makeup and didn't realize how lucky they were.

Then I heard this EP. At first I didn't like it. Too heavy for emo, not heavy enough to be metal. The vocals were good but it all seemed too much like what I wanted to avoid.

But something drew me back to it. And one day it clicked. I checked out the lyrics, and I found tales of alienation, broken families, fear of death, and the importance of friends. The EP is very strong partly due to it's structure. The first 3 songs are pure screamo, cruel, cold and empty. Both the songs and the lyrics paint an atmosphere of intense claustrophobia, and the pounding drums mimic an anxious and depressed mindset.

The next 3 songs are completely different. Sleep Patterns is a haunting acoustic spoken word piece and builds up perfectly to the next track, Good Weekend, which has almost a pop punk feel, as the band shout "NO REGRETS" and things start to look up. The finale, Something That Matters is the best song the band have written, and one of the best in the last 10 years. Huge drums, intricate guitars, tense build-ups, shouts, screams and singing about the importance of friendship.

Merchant Ships broke up after this EP, and if they will ever reunite seems uncertain. But as long as we have this, it might just be ok.

9/10

http://www.mediafire.com/?ayegdlmezjr

Low - Things We Lost In The Fire (2001)

There's an unwritten rule when it comes to making depressing music. Don't make it sad for the sake of it. Low seem to break this rule. The bands name itself seems to beg for attention. Their debut is called "I Could Live In Hope." Not to mention the fact that the two primary members are a husband and wife, destroying any notion of eternal loneliness.

Except it does work, and Low are one of the best indie rock bands around, and arguably the best slowcore band ever. This is their masterpiece.

It's somewhat of a departure from previous efforts, with a more diverse sound. On the haunting opener Sunflower, Alan and Mimi's distinctive vocal harmonies float over minimal guitar and drums. Songs range from oddly catchy (Whore) to uncomfortable almost terrifying (Whitetail). Steve Albini's production shines, and the excellent track placements prevents boredom (something sadly too common on slowcore releases)

The band really show their strengths on the truly forlorn songs. "Medicine Magazines" brings to mind the coldness of a hospital waiting room. Final track "In Metal" is the best thing the band has ever done, a beautiful song about wanting a baby daughter never to grow up.

Alright, with the two primary members are married, no suicide attempts in the band, it's easy to assume that Low are cashing in on sad music and making money off other peoples misery.

But after listening to the album, it's hard to believe you can make up this kind of sadness. Essential listening.

Genres: Slowcore, Indie Rock

http://www.mediafire.com/?jzmmmgejz4y