Shoe! are yet another band rising out of an Exeter scene that is positively thriving. While their football team may have lost league status, having the name of the city on your band CV is seemingly bringing a lot of label attention. With Reeko already gaining a big thumbs up from this very site already and Brat inking a deal, Shoe! are another band who are destined for bigger things, especially on the basis of this EP.
With a sound that isn’t too far removed from the early Get Up Kids stuff, ‘Don’t Shoot Your Firearms In Celebration’ is a real sleeper record. Recorded last year by John Hannon (him of Jerry-Built and Sunfactor fame), the EP has a lovely rough-edged feel to it, allowing the songs to keep that raw emotion in their vocals. So many bands get shafted nowadays with producers who twiddle their knobs too much, but thankfully Shoe! don’t have that problem. The likes of ‘Skylight’ and the fantastically named ‘I May Be A Mong From Cullompton, But At Least I Ain’t A Cully Mong’ have guitars that cut and scythe and vocals that are as passionate as you’ll find. It’s pretty emotive stuff, with lines like “how can I watch you apill your guts out to the people you barely know” really standing out.
‘Lost At Home’ ups the tempo, with the vocals again at breaking point. Almost apologetic in tone, in crunches and sways, and although simplistic lyrically, it has a guitar line which begs attention. Leading straight into ‘You’ve Crossed The Line Between Man and Bum’, the band slow things down before the guitars again kick and squeal. Rob Maxwell and Jon Curtis’ vocals intertwine brilliantly and this song specifically hints at the Kansas pop-emo kings more than anyone else. The high standards are even maintained during the cracking ‘Say It Again’, which shows that simple lyrics can be just as effective as ones composed by some who received a new dictionary at Christmas. The closing ‘What We See and What We Know’ is simply gorgeous, showcasing why this band just have to be heard.
Shoe! are one of those bands that have everything going for them and 2003 will surely be the year that sees them bust out of the south. If you like your emo/pop/rock to be raw, emotional and choc-full of melodies, then this is the band for you. Glorious stuff.
www.shoe-online.co.uk
Paul