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    The Phantom Tollbooth 2005/The Myriad
    The Myriad — You Can't Trust a Ladder cover

    The Myriad

    You Can't Trust a Ladder

    (2005)

    Reviewed by Brian A. Smith

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    Label Floodgate RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2005
    alternative rockart rockmodern rockpost-hardcore

    It is a rare occasion when you hear a record for the first time, realize immediately who the influences are, and find that you don't care, because the music is so incredibly well done.

    You Can't Trust a Ladder by The Myriad is one of the few discs I've heard this year that falls into that category. Rife with pounding guitar riffs, and intricate keyboards, the tip of their collective hat to Coldplay, Radiohead, and U2 becomes readily apparent shortly into "Stretched Over," the first song on the album. This tendency pops up periodically throughout, and appropriately, never more so than on the last track, "We Will Be Disappointed Together," a Coldplay soundalike with Bleu vocal stylings.

    "When Fire Falls" showcases some wonderful guitar work, and "Perfect Obsession" is the ideal mixture of rock and pop. Other notable tracks include "10,000 x 10,000" and "Nothing is Safe."

    Publicist Lori Lenz tipped me off to this band at Cornerstone a few months back. With the possible exception of MuteMath, The Myriad was the best band I had not previously heard at the festival this year. In fact, I'll go one step further: The Myriad's You Can't Trust a Ladder is the best album by a new artist I've heard so far this year.

    4.5 tocks

    Other coverage for this album

    Decapolis September 2005Reviewed by Luke KruseYou know those charts they have in the music section in Christian bookstores? The ones that say something along the lines of: "Quit listening to Jimmy Eat World you heretic and listen to something safe and wholesome like Audio Adrenaline!" The concept behind those charts has always been extremely frustrating, as it has made for a lot of copycat bands in the Christian scene that lack the talent…HM Magazine #114Reviewed by Bonnie MasriSmart. The new EP from The Myriad is just plain smart. These guys really know how to use their voices to create gorgeously layered harmonies, and keep them tight in the process. The band has an interesting mix of lofty melodies and lots of energy that make this EP nice and moody. Great guitars and drums propel the music forward, lots of good tempo changes keep you involved but don’t distract from…

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