April 04, 2005

Yellow Second "Altitude"

Young Colorado band Yellow Second's record, Altitude, is certainly appealing. These guys are veterans of other emo bands, but you shouldn't hold that against them. They've got a crunchy pop-rock sound that's quite bouncy and enjoyable, and their lead singer sounds not unlike Superdrag's John Davis. And, like later-period Superdrag, Yellow Second's songs are gritty and slightly stoned-out, but because these guys are a Christian band, I doubt that weed's on their agenda. By the end of the record, my initial skepticism gave way to a smile; "Forget What You've Heard" is a great rocker, and there's something utterly catchy in songs like "Plume" and "Seed." I also bet you can't keep the catchy "Hello to Never" out of your mind, either. Though the first song or two might lead you to think otherwise, Altitude never gets too pop-punky or too emo; instead, their mid-90s alt-rock style is quite rewarding. A surprisingly nice little rock record that holds up after repeat listenings.

--Joseph Kyle

Artist Website: http://www.yellowsecond.com
Label Website: http://www.floodgaterecords.com

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