Meet Me At The Bottom

Let Me Run

XOXO Records, 2008

http://www.myspace.com/babyletmerun

REVIEW BY: Paul Hanson

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 04/19/2011

Let Me Run jumped through the mesh covering of my speakers, grasped me by the throat, and demanded, “Pay attention to me, damn it!” Given the chance, Let Me Run will do that to you as well. There is no intro to the material – just an immediate sonic blast into your personal space. Let Me Run plays an appealing blend of punk and hardcore.

Here’s irony. Vocalist Travis Omilian is my favorite part of this band. Like Anthony Rameri in Bayside, Omilian carries the band on his vocals, beginning “The Count Of Monte Fisto” a cappella. It is Omilian’s attitude and charisma that attracts me to the band. He puts his heart into his delivery and makes you feel like he is speaking only to you. He talks about life from an omniscient point of view, looking down on his struggles, which he outlines in “We Bring The Booze.” It is during this track that he talks about his father and mother having concerns “about your constant drinking.” Then, in “Like A Fish,” he sings, “I'm barely sober, starting over.” There’s an inspirational quality to his lyrics that has an appeal to anyone that is trying to stay sober in an environment where it is nearly impossible to stay sober. Pro wrestler Scott Hall, who has battled alcoholism, recently skipped out of the Hall Of Fame induction ceremony for Shawn Michaels, his friend, saying that the environment would be dangerous to his sobriety. His statement about not being at the ceremony cited the reasoning that if he was with all of his friends again, he might start partying like the old days. What friends Hall has that care about him as a person! I wish Hall had heard “Like A Fish.” Another strong track is “I Never Said I Could Sing,” which digs deeper into the band’s journey on tour as he sings, “When the signals missed a beat / My party keeps on going / It's the same songs every week / I'm a slave to making the sounds that / The sounds that make you sick.”my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

The guitars, bass, drums, and vocals collectively make the argument that there isn’t a single standout musician in this group. Rather, as a unit, Let Me Run is an enjoyable way to spend 34 minutes of your life. The songs are routinely short with all songs under four minutes except the final track, “The Body And The Slow-Burner” which clocks in at 4:12. It is this song that encapsulates the band. Omilian delivers his lyrics with conviction and the background vocals complement the song as well.

The irony of vocalist Travis Omilian being my favorite part of the band is that he left the band after this release. For this moment, Let Me Run has found a popular place in my playlist rotation. I hope Let Me Run has located another vocalist that can sing like Omilian.

Rating: B+

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© 2011 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 XOXO Records, and is used for informational purposes only.