Published on Feb 17, 2004
I didn’t want to write one of those “this is the best CD I’ve
ever heard” that every music reviewer seems obliged to do at least
1000 times during their writing career. There comes a time where a
reviewer realizes that damn, there are a zillion awesome musicians
in the world and that hearing them is a blessing because it could
be one of the zillion that I know I’ll never hear.
That said, Spitalfield is my personal favorite band to hit my
ears in 2003. This disc has lived in my CD player since receiving a
pre-release copy of it in May of 2003. I have listened to the
intricate melodies of lead vocalist/guitarist Mark Rose, sometimes
several times a day, relishing in the maturity and the confidence
that surges from not only his delivery of emotional-overload
lyrics, but also from the little touches this band has thrown into
their music
For example, few bands in the rock category would tastefully
employ tonal bells, but in “Kill the Drama,” they accent the
melody. Another inspired touch is the way the band falls into a
hushed chant for the lyrics “Stay awake tonight / Forget about your
last good-bye / Now don’t say sorry” in “Five Days and Counting.”
The vocals sound excellent.
What I really like about this band is that their tenacity for
writing good songs for the band. The aforementioned “Kill the
Drama” and especially “Stolen from Some Great Writer” focus on the
band as a unit. Bassist TJ Minich and drummer JD Romero seem to
rejoice in being able to lay down a thick underbelly for guitarist
Dan Lowder and Rose to play over. Romero’s tasteful hi-hat work is
impressive as well.
There’s a reserved confrontationalism in Rose’s delivery of his
lyrics. “Fairweather Friend” is a dismissal of a “fairweather
friend” who will “choke on those words / no one can swallow that
much pride / and my contentions all ring true / Every word you said
was a lie.” Rose’s vocal style is a “regular” vocalist, but he
stretches his range as he sings the last verse. It’s just another
of the touches that makes this music special. Final track is the
nail in the coffin, though. “Make My Heart Attack” has the lyrics
that sound like a gushy, mushy, love ballad from the 80s (Sheriff’s
“When I’m With You”), but this song is delivered with all the
nuances that would make the song cheesy in this era. Instead, Rose
sings, “And I miss you / Don’t you miss me? / I don’t know just
where to start / It’s like, when I’m without you, things just fall
apart.” If I had to pick one song that exemplifies this band, I’d
say it’s this one. Each member capitalizes on their contribution to
the whole and have constructed a truly excellent song.
I hope you will check out Spitalfield. I have finally realized
that the only way for this deserving band to get the recognition
they deserve is to let others know about them.