Mock Orange-The Record Play
Many a rock buff has had considerable trouble deciding exactly what pigeonhole to stick Indiana hopefuls 'Mock Orange' into. With too much Indie for Emo, and too much lyrical significance not to be Emo, it's had many in a pickle.
I can well understand this predicament, for when the singer sings in such a way that you would immediately think this a typical yank pop-punk outfit living forever on the fringes of mainstream success, but yet the musicality of the record is far too credibly Indie drenched, you're playing an absolute resolution tug of war.
But does it really matter? The band doesn't seem to think so. "It's never really been about the lyrics for us", says guitarist Joe Asher, "The music is definitely more important."
Opener "Break Lights On" is a smashing introduction to their sound, with immediate eardrum striking vocal and perfectly in-synch, and yet somehow at the same time curiously discordant music, it fits the bill, and you're intrigued. Interestingly, this in sync/discordant vein runs pretty much right the way through the whole of this album, but it works, and what's more, it works well.
Now let's looking back to what I said about the vocalist, namely Ryan Grisham, and his Punked-up American twang. When you hear the track "She runs the tide", you'll see my words were not of an insulting calibre. On this track, one of many though I must say, his gravelly but yet not harshly toned voice really exhibits it's full potential.
It's hard to believe this album is a throwback from the year 2000; I didn't sus it out, so the fact that this album isn't even close to being stale, nor dated, is another sure-fire example of aptitude.
What regrettably keeps me from deeming this 'Garage-Indie-Emo-Rock' perfection is caused by the usual suspects; the standard ignorable L.P fillers that just won't cease from lagging behind. Naming and shaming just a couple; "Slow Song" (how apt), and "In Even Time", which to be honest could well be one in the same song for all I could tell.
I'm not leaving it on a low point though. That really wouldn't be necessary; for this is an album of confused genres I could really sink my teeth into.
So now I will suggest you do exactly what it says on the tin.
Just let the Record Play.