The Prisoners Dilemma

Item: Handshakes, Hello and Goodbye
Author: Justin Brinker

Handshakes, Hello and Goodbye

(2004)

Reviewed by Justin Brinker

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Label Indianola RecordsDecapolisMay 2004

emo experimental metalcore post-hardcore

It seems like a lot of independent record labels find that artist that will put them on the map, the artist that will finally give the label the recognition they deserve. For Victory Records it was Thursday and then Taking Back Sunday. For Tooth and Nail Records it was MxPx and The Juliana Theory. Other labels like Lookout Records discovered Green Day, Sub Pop brought us Nirvana, Vagrant gave us the Get Up Kids and Dashboard Confessional. Yes, this all has a point which I will eventually get to. Once that band is found or that artist is discovered, many labels are quick to sign a thousand other bands that sound just like their predecessor. It is rare that you will see a hardcore record label launch a band into super stardom.

Indianola Records debut release of The Prisoners Dilemma, Handshakes, Hello, and Goodbye is a mixture of everything that is being heard in the so-called "emo/screamo" scene. The screams mimic Thursday. The music is a mix of metal and rock with keyboard intact. The singing is strong, and there are enough melody lines to pull the listener in for repeated listens.

One issue I had with this record was the screaming. Screaming at times adds to the dynamics, and makes the song stronger. However, when listening to the album as a whole, the screaming is obtrusive and annoying at times. Another problem I had with this album is the length of the songs. Almost every song clocks in at over five minutes with the exception of the instrumentals and also "For Safety Reasons" which runs at just over four minutes. The length wouldn't bother me if the screaming didn't sound so out of place in certain areas.

The music moves from loud, brutal screams to soft picking parts with keyboards playing and singing. The band really shines on "A Three Second Excerpt" which has several different elements, and an ending of just a piano and soft vocals.

While it would be a stretch to say that The Prisoners Dilemma is going to put Indianola records on the map as a premier "indie" label, it does give the label a different voice which is always a good thing. While that voice is different for them, it is too much like all the other voices out there, which after several listens can get stale.

2.5/4