Dance-Punk? Is that
really a genre that makes sense? Whenever I think of dance music I
don't normally associate the word punk with it, but there are various times
in which a band comes along that is ferocious and smart enough to make sense
outside of such a preposterous genre. Today I have one of those bands
for you and they are Denver's The Photo Atlas, who are getting ready to drop
their debut, No, Not Me, Never, through Stolen Transmission and
Morning After Records on March 6. I think it would be really nice
if more bands could muster the frantic energy that The Photo Atlas pours
into their sound, then I might be willing to say that it's OK for them to
dance around and call themselves punk.
:The
Photo Atlas - Handshake Heart Attack:
Whenever I hear this song it instantly makes me think that if At The
Drive-In had ever decided to make their fans want to flop around in an
awkward attempt to dance then it probably would have sounded exactly like
this. Alan Andrews has an incredibly strong voice that demands
attention and the music that he and his band mates pump out assaults and
pleases the ears every moment of the three minute plus runtime. This
is definitely something that will inspire you to get out of your chair.
:The Photo Atlas - Light And Noise:
The guys tone down the ferocity in this song and instead flex their
accessible pop muscles, which, is pretty impressive given that there is
still a lot of energy driving every note so that the song stays danceable.
There are quite a few bands in this genre who only know one speed so it is
very respectable that Alan and Co. can shift gears when they feel the need.
This certainly is one of the most pleasant surprises of the new year and I
think that the band will undoubtedly be making their ways into the heads of
people as 2007 progresses.
-
John Laird -
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