Select Start – <3
2009 is slowly picking up, and it begins with Select Start. After fearing that there may be some down time for the increasingly saturated powerpop market, bands like the aforementioned dazzle me with another enticing release. <3 as it is so affectionately titled is a compilation of fun beats and serious undertones. A mesh of lovable synths and aggressive instruments are at the forefront of this dramatic pop onslaught. The album showed similarities to Forever The Sickest Kids and Motion City Soundtrack, but quickly transitioned into a darker but not so tragic style.
Kiss Your Genre Goodbye is the kind of music I’m always a sucker for. The track includes a catchy melody that blends grungy traditional instruments with the likes of electronically upbeat sounds. Never masking either of the two spectrums, together they produce an aggressive melody highlighted with upbeat pop. The vocals are also a selling point for Select Start, offering a deeper sound than the usual powerpop band, they provide a strong sense of emotion and talent. From the verse to the chorus there is constant flow and an addictive energy that is displaced from the band to the listeners. Kiss Your Genre Goodbye caught my attention because of its familiar style but intrigued me because of the more original elements.
Following the very impressive first track, Select Start gets into a darker more dramatic pace. Oh So Epic puts a great emphasis on their core instruments, and the synths only lightly dust the surface of the track. The vocals are continuously melodramatic and everything is working at a very high pace. The vocals seem to work better for this tone of music, and any familiarities I thought Select Start had with other bands were thrown out the window. Select Start begins to open up into a more original and eclectic style. Dress Impressive solidifies this notion as it creates an eerie aura around it, with the brilliant use of electronic sounds and the creepy guitar lines.
The album finishes off returning to the pop aspect of things. The CD is impressive to say the least, and offers a diverse lineup of tracks. The band has a powerful presence, and offers a fast paced style of powerpop. The instrumentals are definitely the most inspiring aspect of this band with a great melody in each and every song. The instrumentals provide the tone and set the pace of the album. However, the vocals are also very talented and only add to the presence of the band. So be sure to check it out because it’s streaming free at their purevolume.
Check out their Myspace for more info about them.
Select Start – Kiss Your Genre Goodbye
Select Start – Dress Impressive
Tags: album
Posted on the band’s blog:
http://www.famecast.com/backstage/artist.php?artist_id=24724&tab=blog&blog_id=8771