September 22nd, 2005
American Princes - (Yep Roc)

Little Spaces
Jeremy Milks

Full tilt rock has hardly sounded more morose than this. It must be the singer who recalls the Jimmy Eat World guy except his voice sounds like it was recorded after staying up for 10 days and 10 shows and endless smokes. It's weird. The songs cook up some traditional riffing, roaring guitar solos and a pounding back section but they kind of fall back into an emo-style that was big for a while in the late '90s. It's an off-kilter mix but the label Yep Roc has always had bands like this and for that we can be thankful. It certainly requires a few listens to sort out tracks like "Man's World" which have a distinct grunge feel clashing with the singer trying lay down a Ronnie James Dio vibe or something. The title track sounds like the late and great Nation Of Ulysses. I'm confused, but I'm going to be OK.