New Music: Frontier(s)

I was somewhat skeptical, but very interested to hear what the first full length "there will be no miracles here" from Frontier(s) was going to sound like. The album review I read, did not sound like what I would expect from former Elliot frontman and emo pioneer, Chris Higdon. Now, I talking the real "emo" not the fucktards walking around with girl pants, swoopy hair and makeup on. No, I am talking about emo when it stood for EMOtional punk rock. There was no neon shirts, shutter shades, talk about cutting. This was primarily an outlet for normal dudes who wrote about what was going on with their lives, girls, bullshit etc.

Well, to get back on track, Frontier(s) sounds nothing like what I would expect coming from a founding member of the above mentioned genre. No, Frontier(s) reminds me of Sparta. Yes, Jim Ward's post-at the drive in band. And trust me, this is a VERY good thing.

Post-rock is how the little bio on myspace describes Frontier(s), and I would say that is very fitting. Where Sparta left off on Threes with a huge sound, driving guitars, powerful bass and amazing vocals, Frontier(s) seem to be picking up the torch and turning into the great Chicago fire. There is an ambient sound on some songs that won't let you lull off, there is a powerful blast to others. Really, this is an album that got me interested, and kept my attention from start to finish.

All too often, bands like this have a tendency to get a little long and boring the more you listen to it. Where all the songs start to sound very much the same. Sure, you want a consistent sound on an album to keep it all together, but figuring out how to do that without drilling it into the listener's head is a hard thing to do. Frontier(s) have done just that. They have created a collection of songs that flow from track to track without getting boring or screaming "this is our thing, this is how we play music" over and over and over. There is a lot of talent in this band, but they are truly a "band" not just a collection of musicians that play songs together.

Take a minute to think about that. Then go grab "there will be no miracles here"

i got mine from itunes.

if you like that, check out Sparta and see what you missed out on.