Published on Aug 28, 2002
I’ve had this CD now for 3 weeks. This is a journal of how I
listened to this CD.
Pre-Listening – Week of 8/12/02 The Postman Syndrome. What a
dumb name. Sounds like a punk band. But it’s on Now or Never
Records, the good folks that recently introduced the next
Guns-n-Roses, Brand New Sin.
Okay, track 1 is called “Amputees Make Bad Swimmers.” Uh, does
this band want enemies? Here’s a track called “Lonely In Your
Arms”. Ah, going for the illusion of being alone when you’re with
someone. Hmm. This looks kind of dumb. I’ll let it sit a day or
two.
First Week of Listening – Week of 8/19/02 Man, work has been
challenging this week. Maybe the deadline stress of this week at
work has made me a bit more impatient than normal. I still haven’t
listened to this CD but I’m starting to get the 8 projects dumped
on me a week late done. In fact, I got those projects done quite a
bit faster than I thought. My head is starting to clear so I better
listen to this release.
This band is a cerebral band. What I mean by that is the band
challenges the listener to keep up. It’s kind of like listening to
Rush. With each song, you have to figure out what they are singing
about. But with Rush, if you get caught up in the lyrics, you miss
the intricate instrumental elements. And if you get caught up in
the music, you miss the intricate lyrical canvas that lyricist Neil
Peart has laid into your ears.
Same is true for Postman Syndrome. If you get caught up in the
lyrics, you miss the tight interaction between metal, hardcore
vocals, clean guitar tones, pounding drums, and throbbing bass
parts. And if you get caught up in the music, you’ll miss the
soaring harmonies and interesting lyrical twists and turns, “She
Keeps Me Locked Inside” being just one gem in track five.
So what are you to do with this band? The same thing I did. Give
them time. You are probably going to be saddened by your listening
experience with only one listen. You may not even make it to the
8:39 opus “Unfamiliar Ceiling.” You may get bogged down in the
opening track “Amputees Make Bad Swimmers” and its clean guitar
parts that open the track before the vocalist starts screaming a
mere 46 seconds into the track. Don’t make that mistake.
Second Week of Listening – Week of 8/26/02 I now can’t take
this out of my player. My favorite track is “Lonely In Your Arms,”
the 7:15 opus. The snare drum has a different tone and the band
grooves along in the opening section, interspersed with hints of
the upcoming section with distorted guitar. By the time the song
implodes at the 1:03 mark, the groove is serious and the foot is
tapping. I have been able to listen to this 53 minute CD
repeatedly, picking up something new each time. Elements of Tool
and Earth Crisis are really shining through.
I like this. I’m giving it an A when I finally sit my ass down
and write a review of this CD.