Release Date: January 1, 2011
Record Label: Unsigned
Genre: Pop/Punk/Indie
RIYL: Say Anything, Les Sages
Rating: 8.5/10
Album Themes: Finding Yourself, Relationships, Drugs, Being in your 20's
Track Listing:
Record Label: Unsigned
Genre: Pop/Punk/Indie
RIYL: Say Anything, Les Sages
Rating: 8.5/10
Album Themes: Finding Yourself, Relationships, Drugs, Being in your 20's
Track Listing:
- A Fire At One End, A Fool At The Other
- Thanks, Bye
- Do You Want To Know Who I Really Am?
- Been Hooked (Get Me Off)
- The Direction In Which Lost Men Veer
- Each The Other's World Entire
- Our Marketable Version Of The Truth
- Enough
- Shoot The Instant Messenger
- The Perks Of Being Bob Dylan's Son
"I don't belong in this crowd, and boy, does it stand out, but not in a good way" He definitely stands out, and contrary to the song, it IS in good way.
"The Pattern Traced" sounds like a complete band however, it is only one man, Jon Callander from Orlando, Florida who describes himself as a rapper who doesn't rap (although he does under the name "Jon Is Gone" link below.) This guy is making big moves with his debut, self released album "Lessons In Leaving" which is gaining recognition from sites like absolutepunk.net who showcased them on their weekly blog "Free Music Fridays." His vocals closely resemble Max Bemis from Say Anything however, he brings his own uniqueness and his beats are electronic instead of typical instruments like bass and guitar. Callander's strongest trait would have to be his ability to write interesting and original lyrics like "Here's how I deal with anxiety, Alcohol, sex and drugs, Just like the wrists and mascara of Emo girls, I always cut and run." IMO, he is one of the best up and coming lyricists out there.
The whole album plays out as a cohesive work and the production level is very professional. The album stays consistently mid tempo and never really gets loud, but it does get soft on songs like "Each The Other's World Entire" and "Enough." There are no real stand out tracks, but there are no weak points either, which is impressive for a debut album.
So let's break the album down a bit. The opening track "A Fire at One End, A Fool at the Other" begins with "Goodbye Midwestern life, Hello, who cares... I've been angry and bitter and restless, See? I'm well aware" which sets the mood for the album and tells us he's angry, he knows, and he's about to explain why.
On the second track "Thanks, Bye" Callander sings, "I've spent the last two years of my life, High, High" and talks about growing up, changing habits, and moving on, which anyone in their twenties about to enter the real world can relate to.
"The Direction In Which Lost Men Veer" opens with "Someone please distract me, Preferably with hashish" another example of great lyrics. This song again shows the singer stuck in a place he needs to get out of, but he can't (not until he gets huge.)
"Enough" is one of the slower songs on the album and shows a vulnerable singer who has loved, been loved, and isn't sure if he needs love or not. Callander asks we throw our hands up if we've lost, missed, loved, or needed someone, and I'm sure we all have.
Again the singer is hurt by an ex love in "Shoot the Instant Messenger" where he explains "Now we only talk in text" as a relationship comes to an end.
The Final track on the album "The Perks of Being Bob Dylan's Son" seems to be a song about the passing of a father and dealing with the grief and uncertainty of after life (I could be wrong.) Callander sings, "No more miss you's measured in miles, Just memories and might-have-beens, Optimists say it's only awhile, Atheists say that it is the end, I guess for now it's the end." The singer contemplates whether he will reunite with his father in the afterlife or not, but either way he must move on.
The Pattern Traced may not be known yet, but with another release like "Lesson In Leaving" he may soon be. Either way, he's definitely caught my attention, and I can't wait for more!
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