Shiema - Make Them Swing Till It Hurts (EP)
First impression for me came from the artwork that was supplied with the promo CD I instantly thought it was going to be one of those DJ Sharkey, DJ Mumble-Bumble-Whatever, etc. happy-hardcore compilations purely because those animated cartoon characters on the sleeve reminded me on of old nineties tapes my brother owned. However, it turns out that appearances are quite deceptive in this case as Shiema sound absolutely nothing like the glow-stick waving, ecstasy popping, dance-a-thon that I was expecting. Instead this is; whisper it, very emotional rock - yes people Emo.
Now I'll be the first to admit I don't really have any time or patience for the Emo movement, or lack of movement so I instantly know I'm not going to be up to the task of reviewing this release because I don't want to depress my speakers. They'll never forgive me! What to do, what to do? Ah I know! Play it on someone else's stereo and make them suffer the backlash... ta-da!
So what do we have here, well four songs that all sound very My Chemical Romance and Jimmy Eat World based on what I've heard of those bands (which isn't) much. Generally the playing is good on all the tracks and even some of the beats and rhythms I quite enjoy such as on 'Second Time Under Fire' but I can't stand the griping and whining that lyrically accompanies every track, especially on 'Hard Touch'. It's just generic Emo and I feel moved to smash the stereo I've been playing it on (is that the reaction I'm meant to have?).
Turning it off and hyperventilating into a paper back calms me back down and I can go and put on something more calming that will cheer me back up. I was thinking the new Britney Spears album, anybody concur? Nah. Who am I kidding? I've been musically raped enough for one day.
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Mark Stevenson
Comment Posted on: November 30, 2008, 12:34 PM
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