Coming from the same stable as DARTZ! and The New Lev Yashin, An American Obsession recorded this blinding 5-tracker at the same studio as My Favourite Co-Pilot did their first EP. And that’s not the only comparison for those yearning for a bit of MFCP, as An American Obsession certainly have a similar enough sound to help fill the void the trio left behind in 2004. Switching from the beautiful to the more intense in the flick of a guitar pedal, AAO are powerful, hard-hitting and immensely talented. Far from copying any specific trend or even band, they manage to take a genre of music that is dying on its arse and give it a fresh twist, mixing things up to come up with something that sounds brilliant.
Although this self-titled effort is just five songs and 18 minutes long, it’s left a massive impression on me. ‘To Inspire’ seems such an apt title to kick off the record, bearing in mind it’s possibly the best record I’ve heard all week and certainly the best record by an ‘unknown‘ band I’ve come across this year. Despite only being a trio, An American Obsession make quite a din. But it’s their ability to switch from screaming and screeching to being stunningly beautiful that is really the inspiration. Cal Higgins has a powerful and distinctive voice and it’s used expertly throughout. That’s not to say the guitars or drums suffer either – the opening riff in ‘I’ll Trust You, You’re Made Of Stars’ is a blinder.
An American Obsession have really impressed me. Having not heard of them at all before, and thus having no preconceptions, I had no idea what to expect. But this is fantastic stuff and I can’t wait to see them live. If you miss the likes of Stories and Comets and My Favourite Co-Pilot, AAO are just the ticket.
www.myspace.com/anamericanobsession
Longshot Records
paul