2 out of 5

Label: Distance Formula Recordings

Produced by: J. Robbins & Set On Stun

Hey, remember when I spent a million years tracking down any other group that appeared on the same label as Stereobate?  Remember when I finally found a group and didn’t want to admit I was disappointed?  Yeah.  So gung-ho was I in wanting to proudly OWN D=RxT 002 (the funky distance formula catalogue taxonomy) that I put the CD into my “keeper” booklets without giving it much more than a couple spins.  A few more spins later and… it’s coming out of the book.

Your main touch-point here is J. Robbins.  Jawbox – and a lot of Dischorders – form this version of D.C. punk that somehow has never managed to excite me.  The music is generally intense, but the dudes singing always tend to have these voices that suggest they’re just writing angry poetry, and the lyrics form this mish-mash of confessional politics.  So, in general, they’re like punk bands that are eager to grow up and be mature.  (To my ears.)  One day I’ll devise some grand flowchart explaining why this is.

So Stun tries to tricksy us by being from Brooklyn, but be not confused: it’s all Jawbox up in here.  The musicianship is frustratingly awesome, and Robbins actually gives this a very immediate sound; I normally find his work rather muted and mushy, but ‘Reveals’ revels in brutal drums attacks and some nice guitar breakdowns…  Although the group’s range of distortions used never really gives you a headbanging heaviness, it’s more just the speed that sells it.  What doesn’t sell it are the vocals.  And I’ll have trouble explaining exactly why, but they’re just too clear.  Lead dude Tim Okamura seems like he’s emoting and he gets pissed and yelly on occasion, but he’s just saddled with that tone that makes whatever he’s saying uninteresting, and doesn’t properly enhance the punch of the music.  The end result is, unfortunately, really bland.  And then the blandness allows the music to fade into repetitive, as it carves off all the cool edges that might otherwise define song from song.

There are moments on here where you swear you’re in for an ultimate experience.  The opening track bristles, as you’re not yet used to Tim’s vocals, and quick hit Bulletproof Vest has a killer intro but then wastes it on a slower tempo and unimpressive chorus.  This is a group with a lot of energy and musical chops, but a lack of vocal or musical identity to really make it a notable listen.