10 Years- The Autumn Effect

July 22, 2005, 09:50 PM

Artist: 10 Years
Album: The Autumn Effect
Label: Republic/Universal
Release Date: Aug 16, 2005
Written by AJ, VP of Altsounds.com

I sometimes wonder if the progressive/ethereal rock genre has exhausted its potential. Between the eternal powerhouse, Tool, and their successful followers Chevelle and Breaking Benjamin, it doesn’t seem very likely that a new band would come along in the same vein that is in any way unique or even interesting to listen to. Chevelle and Breaking Benjamin, of course, have some very ‘radio’ tracks, sacrificing a bit of the ambient epic feel they picked up from their predecessors. Generosity and lack of options are really the only things keeping Chevelle and Breaking Benjamin in the same category with a band like Tool, and that becomes startling obvious with The Autumn Effect from 10 Years.

10 Years are the first band to shed a very bright light on the shortcomings of progressive/ethereal rock wannabes, as they seem to tackle the genre with a level of grace and conviction that very few artists are capable of. The combination of impressive songwriting, impeccable production and technically superb musicianship has me curious as to when major labels started signing incredible bands again. I find it nearly impossible to talk about The Autumn Effect without using cliché after cliché. I don’t like to throw around words like ‘Masterpiece,’ especially when referring to mainstream rock, but I have reached the limitations of Microsoft Thesaurus and that is the most ‘correct’ word I can find.

The album opens with a beautiful piece called Waking Up. It is very difficult to tell, as a listener, who this anguished serenade is for, and that question remains through the entirety of the record. With words of love, betrayal and reflection the absolute last thing you think is “He must be singing about some girl.” There is no girl on this planet worthy of these songs. Their songs are much more introspective and seem to hit a subconscious chord, as if you’re listening to someone’s dreams or prayers to a higher power. Songs like Fault Line, Cast It Out, The Recipe, Through the Iris, Seasons to Cycles, Half Life, Paralyzing Kings, Prey and The Autumn Effect definitely stand out on the record, as they maintain pensive reflection and power, but with very strong hooks and beautiful melodies making any one of them radio-ready, without sacrificing anything.

No one aspect of 10 Years overpowers another, as the heavy guitars and thick beats flow symbiotically with the beautiful melodies and strong lyrics. 10 Years know when to be heavy and when to be soft, and Jesse Hasek’s voice soars effortlessly between the two, making the transition seamless. It would not be surprising for each song to eventually stand on it’s own as a single, as they are individually as strong as they are together. The Autumn Effect is a compelling and epic collection of work, and a surprising debut from a future classic. It forces me to remember why labels still bother pressing records: because some of them are worth buying.

Check out 10 Years on Altsounds.com

*note to readers: I am fully aware that reviews like this seem like total bullshit. Trust me, I know this. I wrote this review about 40 times, changing it each time because it sounded like I was jerking off the band. But in all seriousness, this album rocks the shit out of me and I strongly recommend it"