Full Review: The Spill Canvas – No Really I’m Fine
The band makes a comment in the opening track about not believing anything critics write. I spent some time wondering if that means the band just wants a grade with no explanation or if they mean that if got a bad review that it wouldn’t matter to them. Well rest assured Spill Canvas you did just fine.
“Reckless abandonment” opens the album talking about time moving so fast that you should be kissing the ones you love, and implied, just caring what those people think and say. “All Over You” is this albums stand out radio single. The song builds up with a steady rock beat to a chorus that hits it marks with perfectly placed musical and lyrical hooks.
The lyrics really come through when listening to the spill canvas. The thing that the band does so well is create lavish, descriptive lyrics which really get the points across. The lyrics on the other hand really can be a double sword with this band. I appreciate that The Spill Canvas can broaden their lyrical reach to think and sing about something other than one girl all the time, and I bet most people can appreciate that as well. At the same time the lyrics are something that have effected how much I listen to and enjoy this band.
The chorus of “Battles” is “…It’s like 1000 paper cuts soaked in vinegar” and when repeated over and over throughout the song becomes its weak point. Other songs like “Appreciation and The Bomb”, “Reckless Abandonment” and “Bleed, Everyones doing it” to mention a few, feel like they come at the listener from a self righteous approach that gets a bit tired by the end of the otherwise good record.
Although the lyrics can some times take center stage with this band, the music is played masterfully. It is apparent when the band makes you reach for and dust off your air guitar to play along for the bridge of “The Truth”. “Low fidelity” is bouncy, upbeat number that incorporates horns in it. The horns are blended in so well that they might be missed although they do add to the song.
I do think I’ll be able to get over the line that the band makes about not believing what the critics say. No really, I’ll be fine.
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[For the record I do understand what the lyrics in Reckless Abandonment are referring to, but the opening paragraph is simply stated that way for effect]
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