![mewithoutYou — [A->B] Life cover](/art/502a4ad60d45bf.webp)
In addition to the fact that these guys are from Philly, mewithoutYou has a lot going for them. Most of the bands in the punk and hardcore worlds are beginning to sound like products of the same factory, with each band indistinguishable from the rest. But mewithoutYou is a refreshing change from all of that.
This disc (pronounce "A to B Life") is a study in contrasts. The band explores both internal and external tensions, while comparing imperfect human love with God's perfect love. And while most hardcore lyrics tend to be somewhat vapid, mewithoutYou is quite poetic and profound.
From the opening screams of "Let us Die," to the final quietly spoken words, "Jesus, have mercy on us," the band takes a winding journey through the many changes and transformations we go through in life.
With the Weiss brothers, Aaron and Michael, at the core of the band, this five-piece rocks with emotion, sans the pre-fab assembly line manufacturing of John Q. Mainstream's School of Hardcore and Punk. This is music that takes chances and doesn't come out of a mold.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis August 2002Reviewed by Nate BaileyMe Without You is releasing, this their first full length, with Tooth and Nail Records. Musically, MWY has what it takes to keep you interested. However, what gets in the way is the barrage that is the vocal delivery. The spoken/shouted attack set to music is a hard listen, especially by the 3rd song. The vocal parts duplicate each other as each song goes by. Musically, the production work of J.…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Bert GanglGiven the turtleneck shirts, skinny ties and semi-matching suits of their publicity photos, one might justifiably assume that the members of mewithoutYou would fashion their sound around the upbeat, melodic music of first-wave British Invasion artists like the Beatles and the Kinks. While it's true that virtually any rock or pop outfit formed during the last 40 years has been influenced to some…Opus 2002Reviewed by Jason MoreheadThis wasn't too encouraging. Mewithoutyou's press sheet began with the phrase "Rock isn't dangerous any more," implying that the disc I was about to slip into the stereo was capable of redeeming rock n' roll from "faux-angst and lip gloss." It's a pretty gutsy assumption, and one that I'd normally smirk at, before tossing the CD onto the "better luck next time" pile. But Mewithoutyou had an ace…Similar sounding releases
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