Remember Right Now

Spitalfield

Victory Records, 2004

http://www.spitalfield.net/

REVIEW BY: Paul Hanson

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 02/17/2004

I didn't want to write one of those "this is the best CD I've ever heard" that every music reviewer seems obliged to do at least 1000 times during their writing career. There comes a time where a reviewer realizes that damn, there are a zillion awesome musicians in the world and that hearing them is a blessing because it could be one of the zillion that I know I'll never hear.

That said, Spitalfield is my personal favorite band to hit my ears in 2003. This disc has lived in my CD player since receiving a pre-release copy of it in May of 2003. I have listened to the intricate melodies of lead vocalist/guitarist Mark Rose, sometimes several times a day, relishing in the maturity and the confidence that surges from not only his delivery of emotional-overload lyrics, but also from the little touches this band has thrown into their musicmy_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

For example, few bands in the rock category would tastefully employ tonal bells, but in "Kill the Drama," they accent the melody. Another inspired touch is the way the band falls into a hushed chant for the lyrics "Stay awake tonight / Forget about your last good-bye / Now don't say sorry" in "Five Days and Counting." The vocals sound excellent.

What I really like about this band is that their tenacity for writing good songs for the band. The aforementioned "Kill the Drama" and especially "Stolen from Some Great Writer" focus on the band as a unit. Bassist TJ Minich and drummer JD Romero seem to rejoice in being able to lay down a thick underbelly for guitarist Dan Lowder and Rose to play over. Romero's tasteful hi-hat work is impressive as well.

There's a reserved confrontationalism in Rose's delivery of his lyrics. "Fairweather Friend" is a dismissal of a "fairweather friend" who will "choke on those words / no one can swallow that much pride / and my contentions all ring true / Every word you said was a lie." Rose's vocal style is a "regular" vocalist, but he stretches his range as he sings the last verse. It's just another of the touches that makes this music special. Final track is the nail in the coffin, though. "Make My Heart Attack" has the lyrics that sound like a gushy, mushy, love ballad from the 80s (Sheriff's "When I'm With You"), but this song is delivered with all the nuances that would make the song cheesy in this era. Instead, Rose sings, "And I miss you / Don't you miss me? / I don't know just where to start / It's like, when I'm without you, things just fall apart." If I had to pick one song that exemplifies this band, I'd say it's this one. Each member capitalizes on their contribution to the whole and have constructed a truly excellent song.

I hope you will check out Spitalfield. I have finally realized that the only way for this deserving band to get the recognition they deserve is to let others know about them.

Rating: A

User Rating: Not Yet Rated


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© 2004 Paul Hanson and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Victory Records, and is used for informational purposes only.