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Splendid E Zine Review
splendid reviews 10/9/2002
The Enemies
Seize the Day
Lookout!
http://www.splendidezine.com/review.html?reviewid=32420202942658730
Stagnancy is one of punk rock's longest-standing and most often lamented problems. This crisis of creativity began pretty much as soon as punk itself did, and perhaps results from the fact that a) the actual music so often takes a backseat to politics (of both the governmental and scenester variety) and b) The Ramones pretty much mastered the art of plastering remedial musicianship and lyrics over ingenious melodies, leaving little room for any band to top them. As most musicians are incapable of reinventing the wheel, traditional punk bands will forever languish in the shadows of their predecessors due to the genre's self-imposed limits. This is why most young listeners eventually trade in their Good Riddance records for Radiohead records. However, if most punk bands delivered the kind of record The Enemies have in Seize The Day, the genre would be happier and more satisfying. If you can't have innovation, go for quality.
Combine Green Day's melodies with the darker rock drive of Millencollin and you'll have The Enemies' basic sound. Sure, many a band would fit this description, but when you hear the bleeding distortion and pummeling chorus of "4 A.M.", it's clear that these fellows are the real deal. This is hard rock, loud and crisp, and while the band doesn't bend over backwards trying to make their songs catchy, their music almost always gets stuck in your head. Admittedly, the band appears to be going through the motions on a couple of songs (most notably "She's A Mess"), but there are also some rewarding deviations from the formula, such as the more subdued rock sound of "Through These Eyes" and "East 14th". If the producer had given a bit more of a spit-shine to these slower songs, they would probably be embraced by rock radio, but the choice to go with a more authentic sound will reap dividends five years down the road, when the songs still sound fresh.
For all of its unoriginal elements, Seize The Day is so remarkably tight and confident that The Enemies cannot be written off as rip-offs. Not only does the band hit all the high marks on paper, but they nail all of the intangible qualities as well, making it clear that they are a legitimate rock band with all intentions of being remembered down the road. This album would be a great punk rock primer for the uninitiated -- and for the rest of us, it serves as a reminder that some things are worth doing over and over again.
-- Phillip Buchan
The Enemies
Seize the Day
Lookout!
http://www.splendidezine.com/review.html?reviewid=32420202942658730
Stagnancy is one of punk rock's longest-standing and most often lamented problems. This crisis of creativity began pretty much as soon as punk itself did, and perhaps results from the fact that a) the actual music so often takes a backseat to politics (of both the governmental and scenester variety) and b) The Ramones pretty much mastered the art of plastering remedial musicianship and lyrics over ingenious melodies, leaving little room for any band to top them. As most musicians are incapable of reinventing the wheel, traditional punk bands will forever languish in the shadows of their predecessors due to the genre's self-imposed limits. This is why most young listeners eventually trade in their Good Riddance records for Radiohead records. However, if most punk bands delivered the kind of record The Enemies have in Seize The Day, the genre would be happier and more satisfying. If you can't have innovation, go for quality.
Combine Green Day's melodies with the darker rock drive of Millencollin and you'll have The Enemies' basic sound. Sure, many a band would fit this description, but when you hear the bleeding distortion and pummeling chorus of "4 A.M.", it's clear that these fellows are the real deal. This is hard rock, loud and crisp, and while the band doesn't bend over backwards trying to make their songs catchy, their music almost always gets stuck in your head. Admittedly, the band appears to be going through the motions on a couple of songs (most notably "She's A Mess"), but there are also some rewarding deviations from the formula, such as the more subdued rock sound of "Through These Eyes" and "East 14th". If the producer had given a bit more of a spit-shine to these slower songs, they would probably be embraced by rock radio, but the choice to go with a more authentic sound will reap dividends five years down the road, when the songs still sound fresh.
For all of its unoriginal elements, Seize The Day is so remarkably tight and confident that The Enemies cannot be written off as rip-offs. Not only does the band hit all the high marks on paper, but they nail all of the intangible qualities as well, making it clear that they are a legitimate rock band with all intentions of being remembered down the road. This album would be a great punk rock primer for the uninitiated -- and for the rest of us, it serves as a reminder that some things are worth doing over and over again.
-- Phillip Buchan
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