by Ali Patterson
Daily Lobo
It would be hard to argue that "The Simpsons" hasn't affected our culture. Few Americans don't recognize Homer's signature "D'oh!"
The influence of this cartoon stretches into the music realm, and at least three bands have spawned and named themselves after something Simpsons-related. First, there was Sideshow Bob, a funky blues band whose CD showed up in the 49-cent bin at Hastings. Fall Out Boy is an emo/punk rock band whose popularity is picking up steam, and they are playing on this summer's Warped Tour.
Evergreen Terrace, a self-proclaimed melodic hard-core band, is also on the ever-growing list of band names containing Simpsons references. Its fourth album, titled Sincerity is an Easy Disguise in This Business will be released June 21.
Evergreen Terrace is a five-piece band from Jacksonville, Fla. They sound a little like Alexisonfire and a little like many of the bands on the old Punk-O-Rama CDs that never made it.
Most of the songs contain two tracks of vocals: one yelling, one melodic. Some songs, though, consist only of yelling, and you can't understand the meaningless lyrics they're screaming. In others, like "The Smell of Summer," the screaming mixes with more melodic lines, which transform into a rather beautiful chorus, chanting, "Where are all the answers?"
As Homer once said, "Sometimes, when I hear a really great song, I nod my head like Yes! Yes! Yes! This rocks! Or sometimes I'll shake my head like No! No! No! Don't stop a-rockin'!"
With Evergreen Terrace, it's more of a "Maybe! Maybe! Maybe!" It's hard to get into the screaming if you can't understand it, but the melodic choruses in most of the songs redeem the album.
"The Simpsons" is a show that depends on intelligent dialogue and quotable lines. One would think any band that dares to name themselves after such a show would have the sense to create catchy, intelligent lyrics, but Evergreen Terrace falls short.
Sideshow Bob, while not around any more, sung about funny real-life situations. Fall Out Boy's musical poetry tugs at the heartstrings of emo kids. Evergreen Terrace, though, just seems angry. Case in point: On "I Say You He Dead," the lead singer, Andrew Carey screams: "One to the back and three to the heart, after cleaning her blood-stained hands she got into her car and drove to Mexico. The end."
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At least the entire album isn't about gory deaths. The last track, which isn't listed on the cover, is a romantic acoustic ballad. "It's just more of the same, and I just need you to remember my name," chants Carey over a simple guitar. This song's melody also serves as an acoustic introduction to the first track, "Dogfight." It sure catches the listener off-guard when they pop in the album and an acoustic intro suddenly turns into a fast-paced yelling festival.
Without having listened to Evergreen Terrace's other albums, it's hard to say whether this is an improvement. But despite the album's title, the 11 tracks are a sincere effort. It's not an album to listen to in great detail, but it would be fine to have on in the background.
Noodle-armed choir boys shouldn't listen to Evergreen Terrace. But, if you like the old Punk-O-Rama CDs, if you have an appreciation for hard-core music, or if you bought a giant pig at Pink Floyd's yard sale, this CD is for you.
