Saetia- A Retrospective

(Level Plane; 2003)

If the goal of music is to make the listener experience the emotions of the writer, then Saetia did not just succeed, they conquered. With every scream, spoken word, and crack in singer Billy Werner's voice, the listener is drawn into his declarations of heartbreak and despair. Does he sound like a girl sometimes? Yes. Is it hard to understand most of the lyrics without the lyrics booklet? Yes. In fact, I laughed out loud the first time I heard Saetia. But if you take the time to sit down, read the lyrics, and listen to Billy exorcise his demons via music, you will be astounded.

Saetia were a New York area screamo band that played from February 1997 to October 1999. Going largely unnoticed during their existence, they began to gain populuarity after their break up and their records can often be seen going for ten times the original price on ebay. To quench this late display of interest in Saetia, a discography was put together. This is what you will find on this disc:

"Saetia" 7"
"Saetia" Full Length
"Eronel" 7"
1 Compilation Track (Becoming the Truth)
5 Live Tracks


This was back when "screamo" was not a pretty boy in a white belt and eyeliner screaming the verses and singing the chorus. This is truly a brilliant and absolute display of emotion. The vocals peak, dip, and quiver. Almost like a screamo version of Conor Oberst. The lyrics are poetry, mainly dealing with relationships. Relationships? Boring! Overdone! Cliche! Really fucking good. The lyrics are powerful and unique, not trite. Here, the lyrics tell of a relationship based around sex, and not understanding:

i was turning over with the sheets, and facing the
arched back thinking of how my eyes, half-opened,
caught her arm moving from side to side, but never to
me. it's all connected by blank words to tell empty
promises of clumsy miscommunication. so we say what we
will, to see what we may, to find a Biblical knowing
enfolded within the next few hours. it's too bad, too
tragic... i spent myself choking on the motions
leading up to said misfortune.

In Venus and Bacchus, arguably the best song on the compilation, Billy again declares how sex had ruined a relationship.

"I look into eyes, I look into stone
it's better to be stepped on than left all alone...
so now I choke on yesterday when I was someone
and I wonder where 'forever' went
and how our 'everything' came undone
I opened my eyes and the heaven beneath us died."

Besides the lyrics, the guitars are loud, not heavy. They build crescendos of noise that compliment Billy's lyrics very well. I only listen to a handful of bands that use screaming almost exclusively for vocals, but this is certainly one of those bands. However, do not come into this band expecting The Used, Finch, From First to Last, etc. This is for fans of Julia, You & I, and Jerome's Dream. More or less, for anyone interested in the mid to late 90's emo scene.

7.5/10 (Keep in mind, this is a young band and this is their entire output. Some songs will be lackluster, but the majority of the discography is very impressive and moving.)

-Kyle
kdrisley@gmail.com

Brand New live at the Theater of Living Arts

Bands: Brand New, Colour Revolt, Ultra High Frequency
Venue: Theater of Living Arts
City: Philadelphia, PA

Few bands can disappear for a year and a half, announce a tour with no promotion, and sell out shows in minutes. Then again, few bands are like Brand New.

After waiting in line for a few hours and purchasing a limited edition poster, I walked up to the stage for good crowd positioning and watched UHF set up. After another 20 or so minutes of chatting with nearby fans and watching hundreds kids filter into the venue, the lights dimmed and the music began.

UHF played a solid set of around 6 power-pop/pop-punk songs. The sort of pop-punk that wouldn't fit in on Drive-Thru Records. They shouted, jumped, twirled, and sweated with a contagious energy. The performance was punchy and impressed me. I expect to see more of them in the future.

After UHF performed, Colour Revolt quickly set up and began to perform as the second opening act. Drawing their loud guitars from post-hardcore acts like Cursive and their melody and keys from pop-rock like Coldplay, Colour Revolt have the ingredients to go far. I had seen them once before and was thoroughly impressed, but tonight something was different. The guitars and vocals seemed to bleed together and as a result make the whole less then that sum of the parts. Their songs usually clocked in around 5 minutes and I began to grow impatient waiting for them to wrap it up. Going in with reasonable expectations, Colour Revolt disappointed me.

After Colur Revolt left the stage, a 40 minute wait for Brand New ensued. Whether this was done to increase the anticipation or not, I can not say, but I don't think that there was much Brand New could have done to put the mood at any more of a fever pitch. But after the lights dimmed once again, I was proved wrong. The room erupted with cheers and it was now time for two years of frustration to be released.

Opening with the chilling "Tautou", Brand New floated on a bed of feedback into the opening chords of their new song "Yeah" or "Untitled 8" as some of you may know it as. This was my favorite moment of the entire night. Yeah erupted into loud guitars and louder screams and I could not help but become entirely too excited for Brand New's upcoming album.

From here on, Brand New drew heavily from their nearly-gold-certified sophomore album, Deja Entendu, while playing a few old favorites from their debut, Your Favorite Weapon. Highlights of the night included Guernica, Okay I Believe You But My Tommy Gun Don't, Seventy Times 7, and the crowd favorite, Soco Amaretto Lime. Their musicianship was spot-on, but the band seemed fairly unenthusiastic for the second night 0f their summer tour. In fact, Brand New seemd most passionate during their new songs, indicating that they have moved on past their old material. Communication with the crowd was limited and the focus seemed to be playing the songs and leaving. Despite this, the band has hung around after the each show and nothing but nice things have been said about them.

All in all, it was an enjoyable night with great music. However, that extra "something" was missing from the performance, leaving me walking away a little unsatisfied.

-Kyle

Brand New's Official Site
Myspace (with tour dates)
Brand New UK Fansite

US Funk Team- Wake and Jam EP

"US Funk Team is Jay, Tank, Jeremy, and Joe. These four forces combined create magic. "Bands like The Beatles, The Pixies, and Pavement are idols to us. We have to make music up to that standard and with every release we are getting closer." This unique blend is created in an indie fasion which brings back fun rock n roll! With lyrics that make you think outside the box and rock that will force your brains on the floor. US Funk Team does not disappoint!"


These four young men are a driving force behind the music scene in Philadelphia. No, they don't scream, shreak, wear white belts or cross dress. They like to play rock music and have fun. And so far, they've done a bang up job.

With their latest release, "Wake & Jam", US Funk Team expand off of their last full length and include slower tempos, and topics such as love (Neighbors), being "over" love (Love is Lame), and just living life (Maps to Stars Homes). Quite frankly, US Funk Team have simply grown as people and musicians, and this release makes it evident. The lyrics seem to be less inspired by long smokey nights and more focused. This is not to say that US Funk Team have lost their quirkiness, they just present it in a catchier, more intelligent way. All in all, this is leaps and bounds ahead of their previous work, and we should only expect more to come from this Philaddelphia quartet.

The band is currently on tour across the midwest and east coast. Dates can be seen here.

If you enjoy your indie with heart, fun, and sing-a-longs, download today! Risk free!

8/10

Website
Myspace
But their last release, "You Can't Destroy What We Came To Save!" Here!!!!

-Kyle

Wake & Jam EP
1. Scream Song (instrumental)
2. Even If We Go Out
3. Maps to Stars Homes
4. Neighbors
5. Love is Lame
6. Drumbeat Song (rough demo)
7. Let Me In (rough demo)

Download Here

Say Anything Live @ Carlisle, PA

Last night, Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA hosted Say Anything, a rock band from Los Angeles, CA. The opening slot was filled by a local band by the name of A Late Night Sarenade. For a band still in high school, they played a tight set consisting mainly of an aggresive pop-punk/post-hardcore sound (for those of you who enjoy labels). The band was even confident enough to take a couple stage dives, catching the crowd off guard on both attempts. However, it was clear that majority of the crowd was in attendance to see Say Anything.

After a long sound check (during which I stood next to several obnoxious, drunken college students), Say Anything took the stage. From the opening drum beats of "Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too", I knew that the crowd was definitely there to see Say Anything rock out and not just looking for something to do on a friday night. Following "Wow..." was "Belt", which got the entire ampitheatre moving and shouting along. There was a definite energy in the air that could be seen in the sweat on each person in attendance. Other highlights of the night were when the band played their single, "Alive With the Glory of Love", "Little Girls", "Admit It!" and the encore, "A Walk Through Hell". Overall, the sound was goood, with ocassional bad spots with the vocals. The energy of the band was evident and you could tell that they were as excited to play as the crowd was as excited to watch.

Overall, it was a solid show. Say Anything are definitely a band I would want to see again.

-Kyle

8/10 (One point was deducted for low vocals from Max during certain points in the song. However, the band had several transportation issues, causing them to arrive at the venue late and skip over a proper soundcheck).

Setlist (rough order):
Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too
Belt
Spidersong
Every Man Has His Molly
Yellow Cat/Red Cat
The Writhing South
Woe
The Futile
Little Girls
Chia-Like, I Shall Grow
I Want To Know Your Plans
Admit It!

A Walk Through Hell

Kevin Devine- Split the Country, Split the Street

As you walk into your local record store you browse through some of the new releases. A baby blue cover catches your eye and you pick up the case. A blurry drawing of a kid is on the front. "Great. Another kid with a guitar searching for answers? Count me out."

Not so fast. Kevin Devine's Split the Country, Split the Street stands far above the average "kid & his guitar" album. Comparisons to Conor Oberst will be inevitable, and yeah, Devine's voice quivers and shakes, but almost always in the right places. Listening to the entire album presents warm, well crafted songs with beautiful production.

Opening the album is one of the strongest tracks, "Cotton Crush". Beginning with quivering guitar chords a'la Cherub Rock, the song eventually bursts into loud guitars and shouted vocals. It it these songs, utilizing a full band and electric guitars that usually result in Devine's best songs.

" After Party" is a fun song about the prospect of love in the midst of booze and parties. "No Time Flat" is another standout track, touching at once upon both self examination and the current state of the world.

Sitting in the middle of the album is Split the Country's highlight, "Buried by the Buzz". Loud guitars, drums, numerous vocal tracks, and some of the albums best lyrics make this track incredibly well crafted.

Unfortunately, after this point in the album, there are a slew of slow paced, mainly uninteresting songs that don't quite have the punch of the previous songs. This is what hurts the album the most and will hopefully be kept in mind for the upcoming release.

"You Are the Daybreak" and "Lord, I Know That We Don't Talk" finish the album on a good note, no pun intended.

Pros:
-Smart lyrics
-Production is warm and well balanced
-Loud guitars and shouts are used well

Cons:
-Should be two songs shorter, as the album drags at certain parts. (i.e. "probably")


Overall, this album is recommended, as the numerous strong songs on this ablum more than make up for the low points.

7/10

Buy at Lowest Price
Kevin Devine's Website
Triple Crown Records

-Kyle
kdrisley@gmail.com

Men Women & Children- Self Titled

"You don't need a reason to get out on the dance floor!" beckons vocalist TJ Penzone during the opening track of Men Women & Children's self-titled debut. He's right. You'll be having so much fun listening to this album that you won't be able to stop moving.

Men Women & Children, a six piece based out of New York, have been building a fan base since the summer, when they posted three demos on their website and began playing shows in the New York area. Tours with Gang of Four, Metric, and Motion City Soundtrack followed. As the record is awaiting its official March 21 launch, I will provide an idea of what to expect from this band that is quickly gaining momentum.

The album begins with the first single "Dance In My Blood", which falls into a good dance beat after an initial blast of guitar feedback. Good programming, excellent vocals, strong drumming and catchy guitars make this track one of the stronger on the album. Fortunately, this is the formula for just about every song. Boring? Nope, not here. Men Women & Children switch it up often enough to keep the album fresh throughout its duration. The electronic programming is certainly a strong point of the album, and yes, they do their programming live. The lyrics speak of having fun and dancing, giving the album a great vibe for driving or having a party. I've had this album for over two months and I still enjoy listening to it. Keep it shaking like a rattlesnake!

Standout Tracks: Dance in my Blood, Lightning Strikes Twice in New York, The Name of the Train is the Hurricane, Celebracion!

Pros: Excellent Vocals, Catchy, Programming keeps album fresh

Cons: Might work better as a whole if it were one track shorter.

Overall: 8.5/10

Reprise/ Warner Brothers (2006)

Official Website

Best Price

-Kyle
kdrisley@gmail.com

welcome

Welcome to One Dying Wish. My goal is to provide helpful reviews of live shows and recorded audio for my personal writing development and your convenience. I will be posting reviews that I have written over the last several months, but expect to see new material, including: The Hold Steady, The Format, Kevin Devine, and mewithoutYou.

bye for now.

-Kyle
kylerisley@gmail.com