Sunsets and Car Crashes,
The Spill CanvasThe Spill Canvas were originally hyped to the nines by a US website, but since then the hysterics has calmed down a tad and Mighty Atom has gone on to pick up the licence to release 'Sunsets and Car Crashes' in the UK. TSC is the brainchild of Nick Thomas, a North Dakota native who has a knack for writing tuneful and tender tracks in an acoustic vein. Now I know what you're thinking, and yes there are Dashboard links knocking about all over the shop, but there's a feeling this record is far more honest than any of Chris Carraba's efforts. I don't dislike Dashboard, but I'm not easily converted by his gospel. The Spill Canvas, however, may not be as instantly likeable, but they are certainly a more honest bunch.
While many people will no doubt throw the 'emo' book at The Spill Canvas, what with the usual cliched 'woe be-tide' lyrics littering the joint, in small doses this is more than palatable. The talent on show, especially for someone who I believe is still a teenager, is worthy of praise and the song structures aren't always verse, chorus, verse, as has made Mr Dashboard a mint. The harmonies throughout are powerful and well thought out, although Mr Thomas is often prone to some lyrical faux-pas. Don't let anyone tell you that he's not over-dramatic. "Heaven's not a place you go when you die, it's that moment in life when you actually feel alive," he sings at one point. Pass me the sick bucket.
Having said that, sons like the album's title-track and 'Caterpillars' are genuinely good songs. There's a lot to admire about The Spill Canvas and they do many things right. For such a young band there's surely plenty of scope to improve as songwriters and musicians, but as I said previously, in short doses this is a far more worthy Dashboard-like band to keep you humming with Chris and co pen their new record. Are they worthy of the hype? Probably not, but there have been plenty of far worse records released this year that you could get stuck into.
www.thespillcanvas.com
Mighty Atom
Paul
