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The Underground Is a Dying Breed

 
Album Review: The Underground Is a Dying Breed

  • Artist: Hot Rod Circuit
  • Rating: StarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: March 20, 2007
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Hot Rod Circuit might never break out of the underground -- underrated and destined to always be mentioned second to peers like the Get Up Kids and Saves the Day -- but that won't be for lack of talent. The Underground Is a Dying Breed is full of all the familiar hooks and heartfelt vocals that Andy Jackson and crew do so well, though it's all done with more bright immediacy this time around, a fact that will certainly help win back some of the fans disappointed in 2004's Reality's Coming Through. There's a Southern warmth that permeates the tracks (not a country feel, just a warmth), even more apparent in songs like "Stateside" and "Vampire," which indeed have a subtle twang. "U.S. Royalty" and the excellent "Battleship" sound like classic Hot Rod Circuit, managing to be simultaneously fresh and invigorating, comforting and familiar; it's what emo sounded like before it just became synonymous with awkward haircuts and hypersensitivity. Elsewhere, "Spit You Out" crackles with urgency before the churning "Cali" finds Jackson's oft-sweet if not slightly worn voice doused in gravelly defiance for a forceful delivery unnervingly close to Say Anything's Max Bemis. It all adds up to a pretty damn enjoyable album that, while not the best the band has ever written, is still an extremely solid and effective release, proving that regardless of whether the underground is really dying around them or not, Hot Rod Circuit are very much alive. ~ Corey Apar, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Stateside Andy Jackson Hot Rod Circuit (3:19)
Vampire Andy Jackson Hot Rod Circuit (2:41)
Battleship Andy Jackson Hot Rod Circuit (2:40)
What We Believe In Andy Jackson Hot Rod Circuit (3:26)
45's Andy Jackson Hot Rod Circuit (3:21)
Holding on to Nothing Andy Jackson Hot Rod Circuit (2:47)
US Royalty Andy Jackson Hot Rod Circuit (3:44)
Ventricle Andy Jackson Hot Rod Circuit (2:51)
Spit You Out Andy Jackson Hot Rod Circuit (2:53)
Cali Andy Jackson Hot Rod Circuit (3:35)
6-8 Andy Jackson Hot Rod Circuit (2:57)
Camo [*] Andy Jackson Hot Rod Circuit (2:41)

Credits

Daniel Sena (Marketing), Dan Duggins (Drums), Casey Prestwood (Pedal Steel), Andy Jackson (Producer), Casey Prestwood (Guitar), Tim O'Heir (Drum Engineering), Joe Balaro (Group Member), Andy Jackson (Guitar), Joe Balaro (Bass), Casey Prestwood (Group Member), Tim O'Heir (Mixing), Tim O'Heir (Engineer), Andy Jackson (Engineer), Jason Markey (A&R), Andy Jackson (Vocals), Andy Jackson (Group Member), Isaac Rentz (Layout Design), Stephan Doitschinoff (Artwork), Sir Dizzy D (Tracking), Brona (Tracking), Kate Cafaro (Publicity), James Curtis (Tracking), Tory Danes (Violin), Dan Duggins (Group Member), Andy Jackson (Keyboards)
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Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more