Spitalfield
“Remember Right Now”
Victory Records
Victory Records, a label once synonymous with hardcore music, has found some of its less-intense bands hitting it big lately: first Thursday and more recently Taking Back Sunday. Now it appears Spitalfield, riding high off the recent release of “Remember Right Now,” is destined for greatness.
The band’s four members played in lesser-known Chicago-area hardcore bands in the late ’90s before joining forces in Spitalfield. According to the band’s bio, vocalist Mark Rose and drummer J.D. Romero started the band as a side project to satiate their expanding musical direction. After several line-up changes guitarist Dan Lowder joined the band and T.J. Minich took on bass duties.
After a few independent releases, the band signed to Victory Records in January. The first impression you get from Spitalfield’s Victory debut is that they have a similar sound to labelmates Taking Back Sunday with less intense vocals … or maybe a sound akin to Jimmy Eat World. There’s even a couple of songs where the vocals could remind you of Kenny Loggins.
Spitalfield has a solid sound: a great blend of rock, fast and slow-tempo music, emotionally-charged vocals and the right amount of pop-sensibility. There’s just something desperate in the melody and vocals in songs like “Five Days and Counting” that make you wish the song wouldn’t end. One thing you notice about the album is that the songs seem lengthy even though most clock in around 3 to 4 minutes; there’s just so many layers and time changes to take in.
By the seventh track, the album feels warm and enveloping – like you’ve already heard it, and some might say that’s the band’s downfall: it sounds too much like other bands. The band even points out, in “Stolen From Some Great Writer,” “We are so sick of recycled old ideas. The only way we can get you to pay attention.”
Sure, Spitalfield might have a borrowed sound, but they’re great at what they do and have that little nuance you can’t quite put your finger on to single them out from the masses.
Mostly it’s the little things that make “Remember Right Now” so fun to listen to: something that sounds like a xylophone playing a tune in the background of “Those Days You Felt Alive” and “Kill The Drama”; the drum breakdown and accompanying bass work in “Stolen From Some Great Writer”; the haunting cello in “In the Same Lifetime”; the toying around guitar solo midway through “Fairweather Friend.”
The band have developed a strong following playing great live shows across the country and this anticipated album is a great introduction to the band for those who haven’t yet heard about them… yet.
