Solidity is more or less all one can expect from modern rock music as a whole. A strong album, song, or sound doesn't necessarily need to push any boundaries or leave a lasting impact on the listener, but it must be solid. Solidity in music means more than all of the instruments are in tune and playing to the same time signature, it means the song/band/sound stands out as something inherently unique in its own right. Pennsylvania modern rock quartet The Evan Anthem want to be viewed as solid on their debut album, Prologue, from newcomer label Mono vs Stereo.
TEA, beyond having a classy acronymic band name, are a guitar driven band in the vein of Elliot or Sparta or My Hotel Year, etc. Finding influences and similarities to other contemporary modern rock groups is as easy as finding the differences on the back of Highlights magazine. While The Evan Anthem doesn't sound like a clone of any other group or album, it is easy to lump them in a category with other anthemic guitar driven emotive rockers.
Derek Kern's vocals are possibly what draw the most similarity to other modern rock groups. Slightly gruff, radio ready singing with an occasional borderline yell to keep from being too pop friendly, Kern's singing style may distract more experimental minded listeners from noticing Prologue's many musical quirks. His singing style differs noticeably only when the song style changes. That is, the rock songs all have very similar vocal structure, as do the softer tracks.
The musical quirks spoken of help make TEA more inventive than some of their peers. Many tracks, like "The Faces of Everyone," "Oh, to Feel Real," and "A Collection of Inventive Beginnings" start with short sonic introductions that break into power anthem guitar work. Some tracks are sprinkled with bells, unusual effects, drum machine beats and keyboards to keep the album from stagnating.
For the most part, though, Prologue consists of primarily rock anthems followed by soft ballads. The Evan Anthem's lyrics rely on catchy, short sing along able choruses like "Fade In-Dependent" and "We Were Searching." Other places the lyrics are more complex but the emphasis is put more on catchy, driving guitar work ("Goodnight, Good fight"). These structural approaches are consistent to the point of bordering repetitious.
By the end of Prologue's 11 tracks, the listener has taken in a solid album. While it may not reach new heights of artistic expression or establish itself as outside of the modern rock norm, The Evan Anthem's debut is enough to promise a future of continued solidity.
C+
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Len NashInnovative, but not quite brilliant, The Evan Anthem's Prologue mixes together melodic, emotive, and gruff rock. Blend it just so and it would be shining, but it needs some work, mainly on vocals. The vocals are horrible on "While Retrieving Military and Mexico." Elsewhere on the CD they improve, but they don't quite get off of a frogish, plugged-nose sound. The instruments are the shining point…Similar sounding releases
2001Student RickSoundtrack for a Generation
2004MidtownForget What You Know
2005The Juliana TheoryDeadbeat Sweetheartbeat
2004Hawthorne HeightsSilence in Black and White
2004DuvallO Holy Night
2002SpartaWiretap Scars
