I, like many, was absolutely gutted when The Movielife called it quits, seemingly out of nowhere. I'd seen the band a couple of times - including their last ever UK appearance (even though we didn't know it was at the time) - and the band were nothing short of amazing each time. They oozed passion and energy and with Vinnie Caruana as their front man, they added exuberance and charisma too. But they've now gone and two new bands - Nightmare of You and I am the Avalanche - have sprung up in their place. Both are very, very different, and neither really sound like The Movielife...
IATA were quickly snapped up by Drive Thru once Vinnie decided he wanted to be in a full time band again. The only real comparison to the former group is Vinnie's distinctive vocals - IATA lack the urgency of The Movielife, especially in their early days, although that's not a bad thing. There are, however, some songs - 'Green Eyes' especially - that sound like the direction TM were starting to go in. Still, while this album doesn't match up to 'This Time Next Year' or even the EP, it's still worth your pennies. 'Dead and Gone' is a great start, while 'I Took A Beating' is more upbeat.
One thing is noticeable that Vinnie has really matured as a songwriter, with a lot more emphasis on the music rather than the vocal delivery to make an impression. 'Always' is slower yet seems to break up the pace rather nicely, while 'This Is Dungeon Music' will surely become a real fans' favourite. This record is a must for The Movielife fans, simply to get their next fix of Vinnie songs. But IATA deserve to be successful in their own right. This is a record with some pretty good songs on it, and while maybe not at the level of his former band just yet, Vinnie can be proud to hit the ground running following the demise of such a well loved band.
www.iamtheavalanche.com
Drive Thru
Paul
