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Be My Doppelganger

Artless

Written by: PP on 17/06/2014 23:07:57

"Artless" is the third album by Be My Doppelganger from Indiana where they've been dabbling with late 90s style punk vibes amidst their alternative rock expression. There are plenty of places where they sound like a more melancholic and nostalgia-driven version of Bouncing Souls, although their mid tempo alternative rock tunes like "Floor To Shoulder" rather recall bands like Samiam instead. I've always been a sucker for that slightly dreamy and echoing guitar/vocal interplay of the 90s alternative rock scene, so the starting point is good for the band, but just like on "No Composure" four years ago, it's missing something to make it awesome.

You see, while songs like "Why", "Floor To Shoulder" and "It Ain't Love" all provide subtle melodies that sound decent after a few listens, they never manage to capture the listener entirely, leaving behind little memory once you switch onto listening to something else. That I feel was the primary problem with "No Composure" as well, on "Artless" it's just more pronounced. The songs are noisy, slightly gritty and amass with distortion throughout, but they fail to include longevity or highlight points that would keep you coming back.

So while it's difficult to criticize "Artless" as a whole, or pick apart individual parts where the band would just plain suck, it's equally difficult to highlight moments where they rock. It's simply one of those dime-a-dozen punk nuanced alternative rock albums that you hear every now and then, think it sounds okay, and then discard it for something better. That's also what makes it a difficult album to review; dead on average records are always those where you don't have that much to say about them.

Download: Why, Floor To Shoulder, It Ain't Love
For the fans of: The Bouncing Souls, Samiam,
Listen: Facebook

Release date 07.02.2014
It's Alive Records