Spitalfield - Stop Doing Bad Things
It seems that Spitalfield has learned from their last go around to ease up and just go with their instincts a little more
Spitalfield have decided to do away with the sugary sweet sounds that permeated their previous full-length, Remember Right Now, for a denser, more rigid sound that at times ventures back to their pop sensibilities. Instead of sounding like Jimmy Eat World, the band can best be compared to something like the Foo Fighters this time around. The songs on this album seem a little bit quicker and much more up-tempo. While there are times the catchiness from their previous album feels missed, Stop Doing Bad Things does sound much more sophisticated. It is clear that the band has grown up a little and their sound has developed and matured as well. Having Ed Rose at the helm producing has helped these guys find their niche as well as some direction.
The area where the band sounds much better this time around is with the guitar work. The dual guitars are often powerful and crisp on this release and distorted at just the right level so the music isn’t far from where it should be. On Remember Right Now, the guitars were a little too catchy and soft. From the opening track, “So I Heard You Joined a Convent” to the aggressive “Tampa Bum Blues” this enhanced guitar work is best displayed. Another area where the band has upped the ante is with their lyric writing. On the track “Van Buren,” the band strays away from writing about girls (thank you) and dig a little deeper as to what is going on with the world today; “The day after Independence Day / there’s no laughter, and nothing left to say / We all fall back to our patterned lives / Our hearts turn black / pursue the dollar signs / Either way, we will all fall down / The beating clock is the only sound / Close our eyes as we hit the ground / And wake up blinded.”
The drums are extremely thick on this release, really helping the album have more of a rock edge rather than an “emo” feel. Each song is highlighted by this change in drumming even in the more laid back tracks. It might not seem like a huge adjustment, but in Spitalfield’s case, it is very noticeable and welcomed. It seems that Spitalfield has learned from their last go around to ease up and just go with their instincts a little more. This isn’t easy for most bands to do, but Spitalfield understands what is at stake showing the natural growth and progression that the band has endured from their experiences. They have learned from their previous limitations and it turned out to be the smart decision. There is still more work that needs to be done, but these guys are on the right path at the very least.
(Victory Records)