The World InsideSeven Head Division
The World Inside & Seven Head Division
(2000)
Reviewed by Jason Dodd
This is an interesting and pragmatic concept for a record. The basic story is that Jesse Sprinkle fronts a band called The World Inside, in which he writes all the songs, and the backing players of TWI have their own band sans Jesse called Seven Head Division. This disc collects both recent projects, featuring ten songs from TWI, and six from 7HD. Jesse approaches his song writing a bit like his brother Aaron, from a minimalistic gentle guitar perspective, but arranges them in the opposite manner - more like a composer - with a myriad of instruments and layers, making for some wonderfully thick and accessible alt-pop, for lack of a more accurate term. His voice is inviting and lucid, and he communicates as a thoughtful friend with something very profound under his warm smile and scruffy beard. The surprise song, that you really have to hear to believe, is "Do You Lie," an out-and-out, not-by-any-means-a-joke hybrid death metal track that sneaks up on you with song progression that would make Slint jealous. If he wasn't so good at what he does normally, I would say that he missed his calling as a Metal Screamer. 7HD's six songs are more blatantly rock-oriented, with tricky bass parts and a guitar that isn't afraid to jump out front when it's appropriate. As stated in last issue's "Pick of the Litter" section, they harken Hum, Jawbox, and Sunny Day.
