Label: Lizard King
Release Date: 12/05/08
Rating:
Drive-By Argument are yet another band trying to mix up indie, emo and electro without great success. Much of the album follows the same pattern: a combination of very plain indie guitar riffs with synthesized sounds and beats. Singer Stewart Brock's voice is forgettable and lacking in individual charm, whilst the dynamics of nearly every track simply remind you of the bad old days of nu-metal.
In line with every band of the moment, the band have gone for 'kooky' song titles in an effort to encourage interest, but if anything you just end up feeling more disillusioned when tracks such as 'Sex Lines Are Expensive Comedy' and 'There's Nothing As Epic As Golden Axe' fail to live up to their names. The highlight, if forced to pick one, would be the album closer 'Cyclists Run Red Lights', though only because of the keyboard sounds which - in contrast to the rest of the track - sound like 80s soul and provide some change from the formulaic content preceding it.
The record's lyrics are as insufficient as the music; the tone of the album suggests that there is emotional content in Brock's lyrics, but you would be hard pressed to deduce what exactly he's whining about. This is not due to his words being dense, but simply that you lose interest so quickly you can't concentrate on whatever message he is trying to put across. The issue that really cripples the whole record is the startling lack of originality - with every track that passes you expect the band to stamp their individuality on proceedings but it never comes. It isn't even a case of aping another group, the band just sound like a genre description - there is no tangible personality within the music. If you are a fan of emotional rock you may gain something from this release, but it is certainly not a guarantee. Everyone else should steer well clear.
Samuel Duke
Drive-By Argument Official Site
Drive-By Argument Myspace
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