Archers – Archers E.P.

contributor: Hoyt Emerson, May 10th, 2010

THWBRO might be a bit late to the game for this particular album review. Archers (including members of the band Saudade) have already seen some local press regarding this short collection of music. From everything I’ve read, there was an overwhelming positive reaction. This bodes well for the fledgling group’s local music future. Considering the obvious train I didn’t jump on, as well music that Archers create, I’d like to go ahead and do an atypical type of review.

Track 1 – Brussels Truffels – 2min. 34sec.

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Hello super compressed drum sounds, how are you? I really like the way you and the jangly post-punk guitar part playfully flirt with each other. Must be kind of a drag when the vocals drunkenly fall over it’s own feet and into the arms of the jangly guitar. But what can we say? Jangly post-punk parts are suckers for repetitious melodies and unintelligible lyrics. It’s a bad boy complex. Don’t worry, the guitar solo totally shows up and calls the vocals out like, “WTF mate? Seriously?”.

Track 2 – Door To All Marvels – 2min. 39sec.

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So Pavement and Blue Album era Weezer walk into a bar. They like to drink whiskey, neat. No rocks, no beer back. Just swill in a glass. They’re both a little butt hurt about the last albums they’ve put out and where music in general is at the moment. It’s all enough to drive any rock behemoth to the dive they’re currently soiling. They just wish they could have some kind of sign, some kind of glimmer of hope that things are gonna be OK. The sound of a few quarters plopping into an ironic vintage LP jukebox chimes in the background. Cynicism swells in both bands. What song could someone possibly play right now to save their sinking hearts? Who would have the gall to put a song on with such greatness in their vicinity? Why its Explosions in the Sky, and they wanna hear “Carry On My Wayward Son”. They proceed over to the bar and buy the bands a round. Whiskey, neat. No rocks, no beer back. Just swill in a glass, listening to one of the greatest breakdown riffs ever written.

Track 3 – Jackson – 3min. 9sec.

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Jangly post-punk guitar part is tired of vocals that don’t care about it. Why won’t the vocals just sing the notes it plays? Is it too much to ask? Why is the jangly guitar even trying to change the vocals anyway? Its cause it loves projects and challenges. It thinks to itself, “If I could just get the vocals to sing a few right notes then it must mean that its learning to be more sensitive right?”. Not so jangly guitar. In fact, your persistent nagging for the vocals to settle down and get a day job are just fueling it’s need for independence. The vocals are free as a bird now. And this bird, you cannot change.

Track 4 – Radical Opinion – 3min. 10sec.

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This song is just epic.