‘Be A Criminal’ is an album which has seen their abstruse musicianship develop immeasurably, surpassing all their previous efforts, including their split with Hundred Reasons. With this, Garrison are sure to explode in the face of every alternative music fan this year with hard-hitting, eloquent grandeur. Delve inside and songs like 'Recognise an Opportunity’' gallop at you with a bounding eclectic mix of dual octave guitars which slice through vocalist Joseph Grillo’s rich and vibrant lyricism. ‘Choose The Weapon’ carries in a similar vein, it’s shouty, frantic speed underpinning Grillo’s urgent vocals in the lines, "Before we pass this sober point, make sure you’re listening / inoculated on your tongue so numb from asking", before it breaks into a marvellously sinister Mike Patton-esque bridge.
In ‘Dump The Body’, jangly guitars akin to the Burning Airlines are bursting out of a keen emo-rock mesh that encapsulates Drive Like Jehu’s finest moments, not stopping to take in some of early Radiohead’s jaw-dropping musicianship. And I guarantee that you will be singing the line, “I could point a finger but I’d rather point a gun” for weeks after. Slower number ‘Know The Locale’ displays superbly sweet harmonies that bob along under an abrasive 6/8 rhythm that shows that even in their less chaotic songs Garrison send excited shivers all over your body with soaring hooks and creamy melodies. Their forthcoming tour in early February only adds to your excitement.
The fact is, every track on this album will make you giddy with excitement. Songs such as ‘Don’t Feel Bad' and ‘Dump The Body’ display the kind of searing emotional hooks that most bands can only dream of. With ‘Be A Criminal’, Garrison have undoubtedly created an album that should thrust emo-core into the faces of all the sad, lonely acoustic Indie bands currently clogging the airwaves with their whiny lullabies. Ahem. Along with Hundred Reasons, Rival Schools and Forever Until October it looks like there’s finally a new, intelligent, emotionally-charged movement set to take hold of this decade. Oh, and finally hammer a nail into nu-metal’s coffin.
Is there any point...
I personally don't like metal, but I don't end every review of a post-rock band by saying "it will wipe all that rubbishy noise off the map!"
Re: Is there any point...
If you don't like it, then, well... I really don't care. I mean, surely you should know that all reviews are subjective on this site anyway!
Re: Is there any point...
&in relation to the 1st post its ironic you mention mike patton - fnm are regularly cited by bands and hacks as having unfortunately borne some influence on this whole nu-metal farrago - but he'd be more than happy if every nu-metal band were hung, drawn, quartered, disembowelled and burnt till their skin fried. personally. especially the ones trying to do this FNM covers album, much to Patton's eternal chagrin. So the final comment there was more than fair enough. I meant to pick up that garrison/H*R split the other day when i spotted it, shall certainly do so now..
Re: Is there any point...
nice review
NME featured really pissed me off. oh well such is life.
i got Thursdays album 'Full Collapse'?
if not you should, i think its wicked"
Re: nice review
I'm gonna get the Thursday alb when they support one of the many bands I'm seeing next week. I heard that Garrison, The Movielife & Thursday are playing the same bill in Leeds next Tues. If it's true I can't wait!
Re: nice review
i'm see the movielife, Thursday and Kids Near Water next saturday! woooooooo
Re: Is there any point...
Garrison - Be A Criminal
Re: Garrison - Be A Criminal
Garrison - Be A Criminal
Garrison - Be A Criminal
Re: Garrison - Be A Criminal
Re: Garrison - Be A Criminal