[.ca] Everyday Behavior

i love you guys but i have complaints:
this is probably my favorite band, i've been listening to them for over two years (which makes me a total snob) and as a snob i have a grocery list of complaints which i will list publicly (dispite my 5 star rating) and humiliate myself in the process. first of all the package design -which i suppose cannot effect the star rating- is abysmal. the eye logo does not suit the band's persona at all. the previous design for "against the tide" was similarly pedestrian in technique, but did create a more appropriate aesthetic. this time around the design poorly suits the feeling of the music, and the hand written text inside is frankly ugly. onto the music. i was disappointed from the beginning (and verbally so) that the album would not be all new songs. my complaint is not unjustified as, perhaps dude to over-production, the new recordings are uniformly inferior to the originals. sometimes the negatives are almost outweighed by sounding better-recorded as in the case of "sleeping through autumn." "sleeping" has great sound quality which wins me over despite being extraordinarily drum-heavy and having inexplicable changes of meaningful lyrics to ineffectual ones. "routines" on the other hand is entirely missing parts that i wish were still there. the difference is nearly unforgivable, but fortunately there are great new songs. the real highlights are "perfect mess" and "the curse" which show a new kind of songwriting not seen before. they are now an indie band well versed in pop structure but not reliant on it. the new songs are dynamic and mature, but at times, even more fun than the previous stuff. melee. buy the music. love the band. they're awsome.

Their Best Album Yet!:
I've been following Melee's music since their high school beginnings and I can easily say that this is their best outing yet. Forget the fact that they've been signed to Sub City and that their music finally comes through clearly on a well produced CD - their musical talent has evolved in every aspect. Chris and Rick's songwriting has improved and includes more range and instruments (in part thanks to a bigger recording budget.) Their new drummer Mike is amazing and when added to Ryan's already stellar bass, there's a firm rhythmic backbone that the band has never really had before. This CD is filled with great original tracks with a few classics thrown in here and there. One of the highlights is the 2 minute track "Composure" which was tacked onto the end of the final song on the album ("Composure" was originally recorded on their self produced 2002 album "Transmission".) One of the best new songs on "Everyday Behavior" is "The War". It's a great song that both old and new Melee fans will appreciate. It's a perfect example of how far their music has come when compared to even their previous album "Against the Tide". Indie rock fans will not be disappointed.

Refreshing:
This is a great great great disc. It is easy listening without being love-obsessed, or morbid and depressing like so many emo-type bands can be as they wring their hearts out. This cd is mood lifting! the lead singer has a wonderful way of embellishing vocals that by any other singer, might be boring, and they have a sound that is their own!! a new favourite.

Great pick!:
Fresh sound. "Got It All," the first song, kicks it off with an early 90s style pop/alt rock but with a harder edge. Great lyrics too. Especially check out "Mestizos Love Song." Varied cadence and style throughout. Compare "The War's" upbeat pop to the melodious and more measured pace in "Perfect Mess." "Pennsylvania" closes with soft blues - almost a throwback riff, with good harmony in the final crescendo. If you stick around, the bonus jam has great classic rock guitar licks. Melee is going to be through NY on warp, and I'm hoping to see some extended jams in concert. Great kickoff album - I think Melee will be around for a while once these OC guys get the word out.

Best New Band in Years:
This is the best new band I've heard in years. Their music is fantastic and they are great in concert. I definitely recommend this CD.

• Got it All
• New Day3. The War
• Perfect Mess
• Lion's Cage
• Mestizo's Love Song
• The Curse
• Sleeping Through Autumn
• Hey Stranger
• Routines
• Pennsylvania