I really liked Pop Unknown's first EP, but when I brought this CD home I was a little disappointed at first. Instead of the catchy emo/rock that was prominent in their previous recordings, this album is basically straight up pop, which took me by surprise a little. I knew there had to be something here, so I kept listening. After 3 or 4 listens I found what I was looking for. This record doesn't hit you right away, but if you give it a chance it will become a favorite...at least it has for me. Parts of this record remind me of older Weston, and other parts have a quiet Get Up Kids feel to them. If you're a fan of music often referred to as emo, then check this album out. It's one of my favorites right now. This CD is a collection of some really sincere pop songs. Be sure to check out the fifth track, "Lonely Here With Me". It's a soft, beautiful song that I can't get enough of. This is an album that you can listen to for a long time without it wearing thin (I know...I've been listening to it for a while now), and it's definitely worth checking out. One of the guys in the band used to be in Mineral too.
B+
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #82Reviewed by David M. PoggeToo melodic to be called emo, but too creative to be called pop, Austin's Pop Unknown float somewhere in the waters of neutrality between the two with their latest release, If Arsenic Fails, Try Algebra. It's pop in the fact that it is accessible and extremely catchy, but it's emo in the fact that it has those beautiful chiming guitars and emotive vocals. While not sounding at all overproduced,…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by ConradThis is hooky alternative rock. This album surprised me. I was expecting really moody, boring music. But this album is upbeat enough to at least make me not want to turn it off. What you have here are solid alternative pop songs with full vocals, tons of harmonies (thank you) and creative guitar work. This is one of them bands that switch off from clean channel guitar to distortion to create…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by Tom BastianThis is a really great CD. So far I have been really impressed with this band. They definitely seem to be on the right track. Some of the songs off their EP I think I liked a little bit better, but these are all still solid songs. With this album I was always kind of waiting for them to kick it in and just rock out, but they really never did. I think it may have been the production that kind of…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by TimThis band sounds a lot like my favorite band Coward. The only problem is that they aren't quite as good. But at the same time, Coward broke up, so I guess that makes them the next best thing. The songs are good, but not great. It was fairly catchy, but not quite as catchy to be considered great. BThe Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Eric DaamsThe opening track of If Arsenic Fails, Try Algebra would suggest Pop Unknown are a fairly heavy rock band. They are not, however. Instead, the majority of this disc is a mix of emo, guitar pop, and light rock. The guitars (there are three, not including the bass) are featured prominently, while the drums are kept fairly quiet. Tim Lasater's lead vocals are good for the emo aspect of their music,…Similar sounding releases
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