BANDS:

Punk & Ska
80's New Wave/
Post-Punk/
College Bands
90's & Beyond
Virginia, North
Carolina, & DC

The Format: EP
[Western Tread]

Nate Ruess and Sam Means of Phoenix, AZ are the hearts and minds behind The Format.  Their debut EP, simply titled EP, is a short taste of where these boys are looking to go: a place stronger bands have gone, oft referred to as emo.  While there are a bit too many pop / folk strains on this disc for that kind of classification, I will go as far as to say that The Format do not wander terribly distant from their labels head honchos genre of sound (the label being Western Tread and the head honcho being one Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World fame).  I think it is a far better thing to know that Nate and Sam may still one day rock our world when their debut full-length comes out later this year on Elektra.

The five songs on EP are only alright to my jaded ears.  The one song that does have promise has already been blatantly titled as such.  The First Single says it all tormented pop sprinkles in an acoustic guitar filled batter.  Ive been waiting all this time to be something I cant define I think these guys are going to have to wait a bit longer.  And yes, it is a bit sweet.

The Format has barely been together a year, so perhaps theyve just gotta work out the kinks.  Somewhere in there, they got it, as illustrated by song titles like Lets Make This Moment a Crime, which is not nearly illegal enough to have such a title, though it does point in the right direction.

This album can be purchased at The Format Official Website

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