Search - Noise Ratchet :: Till We Have Faces

Don't lose it in the shuffle

philster | Georgia | 07/22/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Alas, the whole "emo" scene (whatever that means now) finally IS blowing up, as critics have long predicted, and a whole crop of bands are in prime position to capitalize. Noise Ratchet's debut full length could easily be written off as yet another pointless emo release, but upon further inspection, the band executes their sound with near perfection and peppers it with rock sensibilities sorely missing from newcomers such as Taking Back Sunday or Finch. The first three tracks are oddly enough the weakest ones, sounding like any other soft hearted punk band on the planet, but from the moment "For You I'll Be Forgetting Me" kicks in, rock and roll excellence ensues. Guitars soar and glide seamlessly, carrying the weight of triumphant emo anthems. It's nothing that hasn't been done before, but for those of us that still have an ear for the sounds of Jimmy Eat World and Further Seems Forever, Noise Ratchet serves up a debut that pushes all the right buttons. Excellent spiritual lyrics further show the amount of depth this band has over their counterparts."

Good album

guitars_that_burn | San Diego, CA United States | 05/08/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Noise Ratchet may not be breaking new ground in this watered down alt/indie/emo genre, but they sure do it well. They have good vocals mostly sung but occasionally the powerful scream, typical layered guitar work, and songs with rock and melody. I can say there are honestly no songs on here that I need to forward through. Each one is solid, no throwaways. Recommended to fans of "Static Prevails" era JimmyEatWorld and that whole style. Again, nothing new, but definitely very good at what they do. If you are craving something new within this style of music, don't pass these guys up."

Well deserving of 5+ stars

Jack | 04/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the most solid album i've heard since Lagwagon's Hoss. Every song on this CD is incredible, with provoking lyrics, thick guitars and one of the most talented drummers to come across this genre (he'll pour down an onslaught of lightning-fast fills)...the chemistry between vocals + drums is magic - giving the songs a definitely surreal quality. Joel's voice is also insane- see tracks like Disappear, the train, and Till we have faces (holding out a high note for about 15 seconds- this song is sure to become an emo anthem-one of the craziest). Every song has such a strong melody yet they are all so distinct in their structure.
Check this band out live...they'll be out on the east coast soon, it's probably the most incredible show ever...there is no reason that they shouldn't go "big" on their musical merit alone...no overproduced hype here."