Piebald

Item: We Are The Only Friends We Have
Author: Tom Bastian

We Are The Only Friends We Have

(2002)

Reviewed by Tom Bastian

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Label Big Wheel RecreationDecapolisMarch 2002

indie rock power pop

"We Are The Only Friends We Have" is Piebald's 10th release (if you count all the LP's, EP's and 7" records) and 4th release (3rd full-length overall) on Big Wheel Recreation, a label they have been working with since 1999. The band just toured Europe in January, the US with Saves the Day in February and New Found Glory, The Juliana Theory, Thursday and Thrice in the past.

I was on vacation in California when "We Are The Only Friends We Have" was released on February 19th. While in a local indie rock record store in Venice Beach I had the opportunity to give the album a quick spin at a listening booth. I had heard most of the band's Big Wheel releases and was interested in hearing what they had going on with this release. Only after a few minutes I got the impression that this was an album I would really enjoy. Although I did not purchase the album at that time...I was definitely regretting it later, especially on the flight home when I was searching for something to listen to. Well luckily the album was eventually sent to me for review, and shall we say the rest is history. Not really, but I'm definitely glad I now have a copy of the release and I'm able to write this review.

With each release I have heard of Piebald's the band has matured. Getting more and more pop oriented with each release (which in my opinion is a good thing) Piebald has reached the point where they have put out a solid pop rock album with no filler tracks. I don't recall a song on this release that I did not enjoy. This is one of those albums you put on and start singing along to before the albums even finished. Which may be a result of my only complaint with the album, which I will get to next, but is also a sign of a good sounding album with catchy hooks, strong melody and interesting vocal arrangements. Now onto my only complaint. At times the songs get a bit long, and the chorus on some of the tunes seem to be used just a few times too many times.

I'm not sure if this is a result of the producer (Paul Q. Kolderie - who's worked with bands such as Radiohead, Hole and the Pixies) or strictly the band's input. But this is by far the most complex Piebald album yet. Integrating keyboards (on a majority of the songs), bongos, trumpets and even a choir of kindergarteners "We Are The Only Friends We Have" covers some ground yet to be touched by the band's other indie rock counterparts. If you're not familiar with Piebald or are looking for a comparison to some other bands...I would probably say Ben Folds Five meets Weezer at a Promise Ring show. This is a fun album, I would definitely recommend giving it a try. One question I have for the band...did the Gadgits help you write half of the song "Rich People Can Breed"...the verse section sounds exactly like their new material. My email address is [email protected], let me know.

B+