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New Releases

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Artist:	SIX GOING ON SEVEN
Title:	"SELF-MADE MESS"
Label:	SOME Records
Reviewed By:	Jill Williams
Rating:

How "Six Going On Seven" came together seems like divine intervention. From three different parts of the country, they were lucky enough to meet and get some music going on. Josh English, bassist/singer, began his musical career at age 14 playing violin for the Youth Orchestra in Portland, Oregon. A few years later he met up with harddcore band "Poison Idea" which got him interested in the heavier stuff. Will Bartlett was a Boston-based electronics wizard studying at college in Oregon. His work with the drums was just what Joel needed. Finally, they happened upon James Bradford, a Texan who has been titled "the thinking man's guitar player." Two years after that, "Six Going On Seven" had become one of Boston's favorite bands. With this, their debut album, I think they might just become one of America's favorite bands. The first song not only has a pretty funny-sounding title, but a rather timely one. "Sexy Like the Titanic" should draw all of those Titanic movie loving people out to listen. It's not about the ship, but rather about being in love with a "sinking ship." Someone who can't or won't commit. Joel's vocals are rough and sexy (like the Titanic?) and the music is wonderful. They manage to make the great sound of the first song sustain throughout the album as well. "Getaway Car," is, as most of the song are, about a strained and difficult love. This is a fast, hard, fantastic song. The lyrics are great and a bit funny. When I hear "I love you man but you're an uphill climb (with poor traction)," I can't help but giggle. "Sincerely" is light and bouncy but definitely not happy. More troubled love is the subject of this musically masterful song. While everything about it is good, you can't deny that the fast pace and switches in timing are what makes this tune great, rather than simply the singing. Then, in "Deadpan Cool," English is the emphasis. Something in his voice transcends the normal amount of cool and reaches new heights in this song. His slow and meandering vocals make you want to drive around and contemplate life. The music is wonderfully complimentary to the string of thoughts going through his, and perhaps our, heads. The only song I didn't particularly care for is "New Faith In Loss." It's just a little too loud and tuneless. It starts out great but degenerates into a screaming kinda mess. I don't mind this in bands where that's their main focus, but considering how terrifically musical this album is, it didn't seem to mesh well. It's not a bad song by any stretch of the imagination, just one that didn't fit well for me. "Method Actor" made me sway. It really got under my skin with it's mournful singing and slightly more upbeat guitar. It's simply a lovely, but harshly lyricized song. "Happiness is method acting," he says. Nearly made me wanna cry. They wrap things up with a pretty bizarre song about heartbreak. It's sad and bouncy at times, fast and rough at others. This might just be my favorite song, though it's hard to pick one. I can't do this album justice in a review. It's something you just have to listen to. The lyrics are incredible; some of the best I've heard. The music is outstanding; perfectly joining the subject matter and the vocals. English's voice is so rough and hard yet can soften somewhat for the right occaision. This is rock at it's finest, with a little alternative feel thrown in. I can't find a single thing wrong with it. It's just too good to sit around on a shelf in a music store so you have to go out and find it and give it a home.

 

 

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