The
Exies major label debut brings forth a rock filled schizophrenic
split in music personality. Is it something to look forward
to, or does it leave much to be desired?
There
is a definite STP influence amongst the band, an influence
that is very good to work off of. They aren't very heavy though,
and they tend to lean on the pop-rock side of the spectrum.
In some ways, they sound similar to the newer Our Lady Peace.
"My Goddess" is an absolute tribute to the STP sound, showing
the somewhat heavier side of the band, but never becoming
too extreme.
The
album is somewhat unbalanced in its approach, seeming hard
rock at one point and kind of easy listening through much
of the rest of it. In an effort that seems like it looked
to extend the album's appeal to a wider audience, in some
ways it hurts the album as after a few songs satisfy the listener,
they hear a much different melody and tend to skip the others.
The band definitely knows how to rock though, and their talent
and composure is comparable to any band with plenty of stage
presence. The non acoustical heavier pieces are "My Goddess",
"Can't Relate", "Kickout", "Without", and "No Secrets". Those
tracks are the strong point behind the album, and provide
a foundation to build off of. On their next album, they should
think about sticking with either just heavy or just soft rock
tracks. It would help balance out what the band has to offer,
and provide more of a CD you could listen to all the way through.
The vast amount of programming, instruments, and solid rock
sound establish that The Exies can have plenty of public appeal
to them.
Inertia
is a good pickup for the average rock listener. There is no
pushing the envelope here, so anyone looking for some standard
no-nonsense rock should take a chance and pick up the CD.
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