Thursday, October 23, 2008

CD Review: Melt - A Stitch in Time EP

I haven't done a lot of music reviews of late even though I have been listening to a lot of music. [some of the newer band indie bands are actually quite good these days]. I even went to see some live music the other night [Brother Kite, Springhouse]. I will have a review, pictures, and video up in the future. I did, however, do a CD review this month for The Noise, a local Boston music magazine. The word count was too big so I edited it down. However, here is the full review for shits and giggles.

Melt - "A Stitch in Time" EP [no label]
Local quartet Melt combine pop sensibilities with the better elements of the hard, dark underbelly of lighter goth and cool prog bands on its new EP, “A Stitch in Time.”
This six song collection opens with the Middle Eastern-flavored “Through the Doors” which riffs along at the beginning like a snake charmer, with starts and stops, and cool pre-chorus cooing that send shivers up the listener’s spine.
Some regular Boston club goers may recognize the EP’s second song, “Grind,” written by bassist Paul Pipitone, with strong chanting vocal parts [you can almost see large audiences thrusting their hands into the air along with the song]. However, the addition of Nils Freiberger’s guitar bits that both simulate moody synthesizers and distorted thrash, as well as Rachel Drucker’s doubled vocal octaves in the verses, are welcomed improvements over previous incarnations of the set staple.
The big hooks and riffs jaunt through “Home,” a pretty love song perfectly placed in the middle of the CD. Drucker is often compared to some of the 1970s more powerful female classic rockers. But reviewers are selling her talent short, as noted on this tune. The vocals are spot on and the acoustic guitar parts add a nice touch.
I really liked “Comfortable,” another lovely little number that shows the band’s versatility: Great lyrics, harmonies, and a really catchy hook, reminiscent of “Every Breath You Take” by the Police. However, I would have liked to have heard a bit cooler guitar part created along the base of the song. That though is meant to be a very minor criticism on an otherwise nearly perfect pop song.
On “No Fear,” the band continues to explore some untraditional rhythms with success. Again, very cool guitar synthesizer parts, great lead and background vocals [what are those odd sounds in the background?], and solid drums.
“Want” closes out the set with some serious strumming.
All and all, an excellent second effort by Melt.
www.melttheband.com.

Also, here is the latest Top 30 chart:

Noise chart
Reporting: WAAF, WBCN, WFNX, WMBR, WMFO, WTCC, WZBC

1. Amanda Palmer – Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
2. Apollo Sunshine – Shall Noise Upon
3. Peter Moore – One Ride
4. Midatlantic – The Longest Silence
5. Juliana Hatfield – How To Walk Away
6. Aloud – Fan the Fury
7. Ho-Ag – doctor cowboy
8. The Vital Might – Red Planet
9. Guns Girls Glory – Inverted Valentine
10. The Lights Out – Heist!
11. The Milling Grows – Diving Bell Shadows
12. Anthems MA – Time Starts Now
13. Loverless – Nothing Under the Sun
14. Passion Pit – Chunk of Change
15. Robbie Roadsteamer – New England Weathered Friends
16. Jonathan Richman – Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild
17. Thalia Zedek Band – Liars and Prayers
18. Pray for Polanski – The Ghost and Bones
19. Big Dipper: Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology
20. The Rationales – The Going and The Gone
21. Muck & The Mires – Doreen EP
22. Scarce – Tattoos and Parades and Yesterdays
23. The Weisstronauts – Instrotainment
24. Astro Al – Psychedelic Drive-in Music
25. Nate Mott – Like We Mean It
26. Tunnelvision – Original EP
27. Yeasayer – All Hour Cymbals
28. New Radiant Storm King – The Steady Hand
29. East Coast Avengers – “Kill Bill O’Reilly”
30. Destruct-a-thon – This is Trashachusetts

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