What's in a Name?

So in addition to my periodic updates on how my movie-watching endeavor is going (which, speaking of, I will probably throw on another entry or two about the others I've watched so far this summer) I'm going to try to chronicle the many albums I will inevitably be listening to over break. I have a grand total of at least two hours of transit time every weekday this summer so I'll be burning through CDs from May through August. I'm hoping there will be more good than bad, because if I'm reviewing the CD that means I've spent the money on it already.

iLiKETRAiNS - Progress/Reform




















You're going to have to make a leap for me: disregard that name. Pretend it doesn't exist. Call the band whatever it is you want to differentiate it from other artists in your head, but one look at that name and it'll send you packing. The name in and of itself is bad enough, but the lowercase i's? It's just a mess. But once you disregard that name you'll be able to enjoy a truly gorgeous sound.

If Explosions in the Sky asked Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode to lay down some vocals for them (and for him to sound like Morissey periodically) you'd have iLiKETRAiNS. The instrumentals are so lush you can't help but try to imagine a few of the songs without the vocals. From the very outset of the album there's an intense foreboding sound that does not relent for the duration. It's a dark sound, but not an alienating one. As soon as the disc was in the player I was captivated.

The vocals are where I take a little issue. On the one hand I'm glad the band did not decide to play as another prog rock band with remarkable musicianship but no way to distinguish it from the slew of talented post-rock bands. On the other hand, though, the lyrics are largely disappointing. Some of them are downright distracting--hearing "We'll build this rook house here for Bobby" over and over when you're stuck in morning rush traffic, for example, can put you a little on edge. The vocal quality also creates some dissonance with the gorgeous instrumentals. Partly I think this is a conscious decision, but when the instrumentals are as gorgeous as they are the vocals can, at times, seem like the little kid begging you to play catch while you're watching your favorite TV show. During some songs the vocals serve their purpose of contributing to the dark tone. During others, the effect isn't as positive.

Overall, however, this is an absolutely gorgeous CD that seems to be ubiquitously cheap; I bought mine for $5.99. If you see it around I strongly suggest picking it up--unless, of course, the aesthetics of a name are insurmountable for you.

Standout Tracks: Terra Nova, No Military Parade, Citizen, Stainless Steel

Music: 8/10
Vocals: 5/10
Longevity: 6.5/10
Overall: 7/10