I had never heard Calibretto 13's music prior to this, so when I received this CD I was extremely excited to listen to it. The album has been out for a while now and I have yet to hear one negative thing said about them or this release, so I knew I was most likely in for a treat. I was sure this brand of "acoustic punk" would be new and inviting to my ears, something I definitely needed.
After my first listen through the entire album I was not impressed to say the least. The songs seemed to be lacking in all areas. I enjoy fun, quirky, silly music with lyrics that match the music, but this was just beyond all of that. The lyrics seemed empty to me. You can write a silly song and still have some sort of underlying message to it. Many, if not all, of these songs had messages to them ranging from how important friendships are ("High Five") and hypocrisy ("Creep"), but they were so blatant. I like to be able to read into songs, even if I don't have to dig deep to find the real meaning, or to find something that relates to me and something I'm going through in my life. With these songs, there seems to be only one thing they're about, and you aren't able to read into them finding your own meanings.
Musically, it was refreshing to hear something that isn't totally bland and copying the next big thing that's out in the music world today. They use acoustic guitars throughout, and still maintain that fun, silly sound through the use of some creative bass lines and the "kid-like" vocals.
This album will not make it on to my heavy rotations list, but it could be something to listen to once every few months just to make myself smile when things aren't going so great.
C+
Other coverage for this album
Exit Zine 2001Reviewed by James M. BranumCalibretto 13 has created a very memorable album that almost rivals the albums of Five Iron Frenzy in sheer silliness, while taking advantage of a musical genre (acoustic punk) that has been neglected for too long. I must say that I am not familiar with the acoustic punk scene (other than a song or two by The Violent Femmes), but I really, really like what I hear. Enter the Danger Brigade…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Michial FarmerCalibretto 13 may be in the running for "Most Fun Song of the Year" with "High Five," the leadoff single from their debut album for Tooth and Nail Records, Enter the Danger Brigade. For starters, it's acoustic punk (or, as their press release calls it, "alternative folk-punk," a genre painfully unmined except by the likes of The Violent Femmes). For another thing, lead singer Joseph Whiteford has…Similar sounding releases
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