I think it’s safe to say that if Ben Punktastic was reviewing this it wouldn’t get the same score I’ve given it. The Beautiful Mistake play that post-hardcore/emo gubbins that is about as common as seing Jordan in the tabloids with her tits hanging out. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing (the music that is, not the plastic ones parts) but it’s a genre filled to bursting point and the number of bands doing something generally new and exciting is very small. But there is a category of bands that do things well, even if 80 other bands have played it before that week, and TBM fall snugly into that clique.
‘Light A Match, For I Deserve To Burn’ sure as hell isn’t a great record, but it’s still a good one – there are enough twists and turns to avoid any generic tag, and the songs themselves show melody and screaming alongside some nice breakdowns and strange time signatures. It’s post-hardcore Jim, but not quite as we know it. ‘On Building’ opens things up strongly, a battering ram of a track that remains melodic but throws squally guitars and some crashing drums into the mix. Of course it is the vocal melodies that really give TBM a step up from the pack, and when they are spot on, as they are here, it’s all good. ‘Stavesail’ could have been excellent but needs a kick up the bum – as it is the bite the track needs to take it to the next step doesn’t actually arrive. It sums up the entire record; it’s good, but lacks a certain something to take it to the next level. ‘Circular Parade’ reminds me of the intro to a Puddle of Mudd song, which clearly isn’t a good thing, but the screaming and the harsher guitars soon was away those impure thoughts.
By the time things get to ‘Silence’, the dreaded generic word is hovering. A certain pattern with the tracks is beginning to develop; long instrumental openings give way to quiet/loud vocals, which then lead into a melodic quiet/loud (delete as appropriate) crashing of drums or lightly strummed guitar. It’s all rather pleasant and easy on the ear, but it’s not particularly fresh or original. ‘Light A Match’ itself is very similar in style, the track lacks the bite of a Thursday or the melody of a Taking Back Sunday and lies limply in-between. But even when things are faster and more aggressive, such as ‘Anonymous v California’, the screams sound a little forced. Maybe I’m not easily pleased, but there’s something not quite right. It’s certainly not a bad song, but the simple fact is there are other bands that do this better. Even ‘Narnian Analog’, which reminds me of latter day Smashing Pumpkins in a car crash with Thursday, and the closing opus of ‘For A Friend’ can’t rescue a reasonably good record and turn it into a great one. It’s a shame because the elements are all there, it’s just TBM seemingly can’t put the pieces of the puzzle together.
So yeah, avoid like the plague if the sight of a snugly fitted black t-shirt and thick rimmed glasses makes you want to heave. If that’s the kind of fashion accessory that floats your boat, chances are TBM will too. Unlikely to become your new favourite band, but there are certainly bits here to make you sit up and listen for 40-minutes. Whether it stands the test of time is another matter…
Paul