Another day, another record and another misleading and over hyping press sheet seems to be an all too familiar feeling lately. In 2001 when BTTV formed with the ideals of creating music that contradicts the dull and predictable state of punk and indie (I paraphrase) they were probably on to something good. Move on four years and it would seem that a record with jagged angular guitar lines and grating sloppy vocals is very much predictable and somewhat dull. Bitter? Me? Nah.
‘We Put Scissors Where Our Mouths Are’, other than perhaps offering an explanation as to why the vocals sound so tortured throughout, is the band’s debut album on Nitro Records. BTTV have been on the road with PMFS, BLOOD BROTHERS and Q AND NOT U amongst others in the US, and the influence of their peers certainly comes alive on this record with discordant guitars riding high in the treble stakes chopping up rhythms left, right and centre resulting in a veritably ‘spazzy’ sound for lack of a better word.
This is a record I’ve given several listens but have failed to really identify any particular stand-out moments. A problem I find with records containing songs with such disjointed structures, which are often based all around the same basic idea, is finding the beginnings and ends. So whilst I cannot fault the band for consistency and general lack of anomalies I can’t seem to list any definable moments either. Granted this sub-genre is not something I’d choose to listen to and no doubt the user reviews will inform me to listen to MCR or some other dross in an ignorant retort. However I can tell you that what BTTV do on this record is competent enough to sit well in its field and just about stand its ground against its contemporaries. It does not, for me however; offer anything novel or exciting in the slightest.
www.bullettraintovegas.com
Nitro Records
-Mike