BANDS:

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80's New Wave/
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90's & Beyond
Virginia, North
Carolina, & DC

First Night on Earth: No One Knows Anything for Sure

Live your life like its the last night on earth. So says First Night On Earth (in their song, A Good Reason), a band from my newly adopted hometown of Charlotte, NC. Sounds like a good idea in theory, but if it was really the last night on earth, would I be up late writing this review? Probably not what would be the point? So Im going to go do something else. Jump out of an airplane, sample hardcore narcotics, or ask that cute girl at the bank to go to Vegas with me and get married, despite the fact that I dont think she even knows my name. On the other hand, my editor will get pissed if I dont meet my deadline, so Ill assume that tonight is NOT the last night on earth, and finish the review.

The music has a hefty brit-pop influence. The electric guitars are so drenched with effects and delay that they barely even sound like guitars anymore. The result is a dreamy, almost psychedelic wall of beautiful noise. Add in spacey keyboards, the perfect blend of real and synthetic percussion, and a driving bass line to hold it all together and you have a winner.

The vocals are American indie-rock: sensitive, enunciated, and delivered by a singer who knows exactly when and when not to sound serious.  These are often accompanied by pretty female backing vocals from a woman who sounds like the genetic clone of Julie from defunct Canadian favorite, Erics Trip.

The songs have pop hooks that will embed deep into your brain. The writing and arrangement are top-notch. All this is followed through with stunning production, resulting in very little to complain about here. If I did have to complain about something, it would be the inclusion of the painfully rambling liner notes (just print the lyrics next time).

My favorite song (though all of them are good) would probably be The Thrill, simply due to the Nothings wrong with my heart... part. You cant understand its shimmering beauty unless you hear it for yourself. I highly recommend this album, and am proud to live in the same town as this band. Pretend its the last night on earth and listen to this CD while you still can.
 

You can purchase this album atAmazon

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