Shorthanded is one of the many new melodic punk bands that Tooth and Nail recently picked up. They do have a few other albums out on Boot to Head Records, but this is their first release on Tooth and Nail. After hearing some of their older stuff, I was really excited to hear this new album. I was thinking that if they just expanded on the sound they have already created on past projects, this would be an exceptional album. Unfortunately, they did not do that. When I was listening to this album, it was like I was listening to just about every other new punk band that has come out over the last couple of years. They didn't dare to be different, they just stuck with the original mold of the late 90's trend of melodic punk. Luckily, I am into that whole sound so I can stand (barely) listening to this album, but I wanted to hear something that is somewhat different, but can blend into the rapidly increasing melodic punk sound. The only stand-out song on this album, is "Imitation". This is a song that was on their older album, but they re-did it for this release. This is a song that showcases what this band is capable of doing. It's still punk, but it has a different groove to it. This is the sound I was hoping they would have expanded on. Overall, this was a decent effort at best, but I know this band can do much more than this. I will be patiently waiting for their next release, hopefully it will be a step-up from every other album they've done.
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Other coverage for this album
Decapolis 2001Reviewed by ChrisOkay, this is an easy one. If you like what the Descendents or All have done in the past 5 years, you'll like this record, because it's the same thing (almost annoyingly identical). I'm sure part of this is due to it having been recorded and produced by members of those bands, but nonetheless it's pretty much just a copycat effort. If you don't mind knowing that a band is just doing an incredibly…Art for the Ears 2000Reviewed by Marco Povervest37 minutes, 15 songs, here we go: Shorthanded is an energetic trio playing pop-punk. Another one! This Bill Stevenson, Stephen Egerton and Jason Livermore produced CD shows a band that knows how to play their instruments and how to use them in creating quality songs. Sometimes their music reminds me a bit of Ghoti Hook with a hint of Element 101. And this is not girls-absorbed lyrical stuff…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Michial FarmerTooth & Nail must have signed every independent Christian punk band in America, all at once. In the past six months, they've released debut albums by Hangnail, Off the Record, The Undecided, The Deadlines, Element 101, and probably some others that I'm forgetting. Some of these bands have been fairly typical (and boring!) pop-punk, while some of the others, most notably The Deadlines, have had an…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Josh SpencerWell, well, a surprise. This is much better punk than you would expect from the juvenile cover. These guys are solid musicians, with emotive walking bass lines galore, guitar solos, and varied tempos and rhythms. The songs are about as memorable and distinct as punk can be. Shorthanded have a very melodic, friendly tone, good for listening to while holding hands with your girlfriend. The vocalist…Similar sounding releases
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