Elliot
US Songs
Revelation
The first time I listened to this CD was on the way home from a road trip down to Vero Beach for a show. After miles of driving, the CD was over and it just felt wrong. I don’t know how to describe it, but with music this good, there should always be more.
Needless to say, I like what I hear from this first full length sampling of Elliot. For those of you who don’t know, Elliot rose from the ashes of Falling Forward, one of the first and most influential emo-core bands of the 90s. Other members moved on to new things, and singer Chris Higdon started Elliot. It is a huge relief to hear this band knowing that they have all the power and glory of Falling Forward with a touch extra of songwriting ability added. After a year of touring, they worked the kids into a feverish frenzy, ravenous for something to come out besides a single 7” record which only hinted at what this band is capable of. The time has come.
From the first song this CD hits hard and doesn’t spare us the rock (a la Quicksand). “Miracle” starts things off with some bombast, but also with a kind of mission statement. “Intro” is ironically up next, an instrumental with some interesting textures. After that is the lovely “Conversation,” and then some real rock songs. All the time, Chris’ voice digs deeper and deeper into the well of ranges he never got to reach for with Falling Forward. Sometimes the songs have such a Quicksand feel that it’s eerie, but in a good way. For example, “Every Train That Passes” had me expecting to hear Walter Schreifel’s voice instead of Chris, but again, they pull it off without a hitch. The rock songs on this really make me want to move, the slower songs are smooth and make my heart go a little bit a flutter.
I would have to say this is one of the best CD’s I have heard in quite some time, and the ante is definitely up for new bands to follow. Every song is just damn good. You can quote me on that. The production is almost seamless and the constant battle for instrumental balance is just about perfectly even for once. Mission accomplished, boys, now it is time to do what no other emo band has been able to do in recent memory. Stay together long enough to enjoy success. Revelation Records, P.O. Box 5232, Huntington Beach, CA 92615; http://www.RevHQ.com
