If I had a dollar for every shitty emo album that I've listened to since the genre's revival around 2010, I'd be a very rich man. It's become a genre that is either hit or miss, as you can come across something great at any time, something on par with emo greats like Brand New, Dashboard Confessional, and Sunny Day Real Estate, but you can just as easily come across another knock off attempt of mainstream pop-punk emo acts like Fall out Boy and the All-American Rejects. On their debut, TWIABP made it clear that their eight-piece ensemble wanted to be grouped together with the greats, as they took on a different approach to the genre. They continue to follow through on that with their sophomore release.
On Whenever, If Ever, the band broke-through with what were some greatly crafted emo tracks, that constantly saw changing vocals, it seemed like every track had a different member of the band lending their voice, and while it did make for a bit of a mess, that was just part of it's magic. On their newest album Harmlessness, the band gets away from that, and we hear David Bello and Katie Shanholtzer take responsibility for the majority of the vocals. The dynamic of their voices is excellent on track to track basis and is one of my favorite things featured on the album. It flows beautifully over the instrumentation, which is another thing worth mentioning.
Emo has a always had a very similar feel to alt-rock, sometimes even post-punk, at least when it comes to the music that's being played, as it's really the lyrics that separate emo from the other two. What caught my ear during my first few play throughs of this album, was the band's ability to use both heartbreakingly sad instrumentals, and follow them up with songs that sound, almost, well, uplifting to be honest. The intro track, and one every my favorite cuts, You Can't Live There Forever, features a beautiful sparse acoustic guitar opening, before becoming a fantastic composition of violins, drums, chimes, and any other instrument the band can use to help this feeling of happiness that kicks off the album. It's not necessarily new for an emo band to mix in a few less depressing songs in their track listing, but the way that TWIABP do it, it makes me really wonder if they would simply be better off pursing more of an indie rock route than continuing with the emo genre.
Now don't get me wrong here, because the band does emo tracks exceptionally well on this album too, take a look at January 10th, 2014 for any needed proof, the track tells the true story of Diana, the hunter of bus drivers, a female vigilante who murdered two bus drivers as revenge for two decades worth of rape, assault, and homicide in Juarez, Mexico. While at it's base, it's a wonderfully crafted emo song, the subject matter makes it so much more than that, and proves the band is capable of a lot more than the confines of the emo genre. We get more uplifting, poppy, groovy tracks like The Word Lisa, Rage Against the Dying Light, and Willie (for Howard) as the track listing moves on, the end of the album sees a much more sad tone, and also features the album's two longest tracks with I Can Be Afraid of Anything clocking in at over 7 minutes, and Mount Hum finishing a minute longer.
The best comparison I have for this album is Modern Baseball's You're Gonna Miss It All, just because in the same way that it blew me away with the potential they displayed with their fusion of folk, punk and emo on the album, TWIABP blow me away with the potential of their own sound on Harmlessness. By no means is it completely innovative, but how often do you find an emo release that truly is? In a time where the genre is littered with albums not worth mentioning, the band comes through with a wonderful release, something that any fan of the genre, or indie rock for that matter, should take the time to listen to.
Rating: B+
Favorite Tracks: You Can't Live There Forever, January 10th 2014, The Word Lisa, I Can Be Afraid of Anything
Least Favorite Tracks: Mount Hum
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