Crazy hardcore goodness
I think it would be fair to say that The Letters Organize is a hardcore band. It would also be fair to say that there's punk mixed in too. Most of all, 'Dead Rhythm Machine' is a mad album - the title is really misleading as they 'meld spastic, off kilter rhythms' as the press release puts it. It certainly is frenetic, but that's exactly why I like it so much.
When I first heard 'Dressed Up in Gatwick', I didn't like it, it was just too frenetic. But, then again, the song is a grower. The beat on this is more racing than driving, with a tendency to leave you rather breathless. It's not all about speed mind you, as the jerky guitars and dual vocals (there's shouting and singing together) remind us - although the vocals certainly do their best to match the beat. A lot of the album is like that too, but for the most part it doesn't get boring or unimaginative.
Not so next track 'Matador', which is all about speed and, at 1 minute 27, that's not much of a surprise. It's one of the craziest songs of the whole album with off-key, wild guitars that seem to be in direct competition with the fast and furious beats and vocals for your attention. It’s more a case of surviving it than anything else.
But, of course, there's only so much you can take of yelling so it's a nice surprise when 'They Call It Rock 'n' Roll (and Other Lies)' has more singing. This time, the dual vocals are put to good use, playing the hollering off against the singing - the effect is that it becomes punk in the vein of Bad Religion and Black Flag. It's a highlight of the album, even it does use a time-honoured punk device like the spoken word sample. Then, again it's not the only track to have more singing than shouting, with 'There's Room for One More' following its lead, just with more straight vocals.
Although the album is far from unimaginative, it had its moments that sounded like other bands. A couple of songs, 'Perfection?' and 'A Book for Dummies' really sound like the Dead Kennedys in the beats, hyperactive guitars and truly furious vocals. The Dead Kennedys then join forces with the Offspring on 'I Want I Want', and the result is eccentric but pretty good.
So let 'Dead Rhythm Machine' into your life, and check out the craziness. Warning: this album is an acquired taste.