Les Savy Fav
Rome (Written Upside Down)
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Les Savy Fav
Rome (Written Upside Down)
Southern, 2000
RiYL: Dismemberment Plan, Q and not U, Braniac |
Rome (Written Upside Down) is the band's first attempt at recording since the disappearance of its second guitarist, Gibb Slife. You would think losing a guitarist would hinder a band's spirit, but Les Savy Fav is not the type to shed tears. Although the second guitar is noticeably missing, the band now has the proper ingredients to create a less cluttered and more dynamic EP. Various keyboard parts and studio effects replace the absent guitar and provide a different feel than the typical Les Savy Fav.
It is easier to distinguish the instruments from one another with the second guitar missing: The drums are thick and in-your-face and the guitar and bass have more personality than before. Tim Harrington's raspy vocals slice through the intense, driving music, displaying much growth since Cat And The Cobra. Sometimes the sounds are a bit too distinct from one another and don't blend with as much ease, but the music is as strong as ever.
"I.C. Timer" sets an appropriate mood for the EP, while "Asleeper's Union" gives us insight into the band's maturity. Clocking in at under 20 minutes, these five songs present the listener with a stunning array of dynamics, unique chord progressions, and complex time signatures. The raw production ignites the album even more. You can feel Les Savy Fav's intensity, which has not been as easy to do on past releases.
Yes, this disc is merely baby steps from the band's earlier works, but Les Savy Fav have still managed to create a moving record that will provide the beginning of the bridge from post-punk to post-post-punk. Think of this album as Les Savy Fav with less teeth, but the teeth they have left are sharper, providing for a more deliberate and incisive bite.
MARVIN LIN |