The Pitch: The debut album from New York post-punk/post-hardcore act Laces Out via Nefarious Industries. FFO: Fugazi, Quicksand, Pigeon
What I Like: More 90's nostalgia to transport me back to a simpler time (for me at least). Laces Out oozes aesthetic of the days when alternative radio reigned supreme and MTV actually played edgy music videos instead of reality garbage. As the droning, infectious bass groove of "Will To Become" kicks off, I am immediately thinking of Fugazi. The music is similar in both tone and mood; and while this is going to sound pretentious, it also carries a sort of intellectual bookishness that I felt was aways a defining quality of their peers. I'm not trying to say that this is just "music for smart people," I simply can't think of a better way to put it. Much of the album is driven by the aforementioned basslines as well as purposefully simplistic guitar hooks and catchy lyrics. It comes together nicely, and the glue is Ed Ciarfella's extremely passionate and genuine vocal delivery.
Critiques: For its brevity and focus on riffs, this album could try harder at creating truly memorable hooks. The firsts song really bores into my mind and sticks around, while the others are good...but not as interesting to me. Laces Out could also stand to branch out a little from their source inspirations.
The Verdict: A solid debut and one of the few post-hardcore releases of late that really caught my attention. Laces Out isn't the most exciting of albums, but it comes with plenty of promise and an excuse to revisit my youth. Buy it HERE and stream it now on all major platforms.
Flight's Fav's: Will to Become, Kritzinger's Warning, Bugs
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