The Indie Review

By Sean Duregger
June 24, 2008

Artist: Socratic
Album: Spread the Rumors
Label: Drive Thru Records
Rating:

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From my experience, there are 2 types of bands putting out music today.  First, are the bands who are creating music to push boundaries and further their artistic, moral or political expression creatively.  On the other hand, are bands who are writing for the status quo to build fans and are comfortable writing generic and accessible music.  While their music doesn’t totally suck, they’re not doing anything exciting or new either.

Socratic, with their newest release Spread the Rumors is a band that reminds me of that second example of bands.  Here we have sugar soaked, pop infused indie rock.  Just enough depth below the surface to rise above The Jonas Brothers, but barely.  There is nothing new here that demands our attention.  You’ve heard one band like this, you’ve heard them all.

The songs here are fun and poppy.  I can see why the average 13 year old girl would love these guys.  And I was on board with accepting Socratic for what they were until I heard the song Long Distance Calls.  It shares the exact melody in the chorus as the chorus of Boy in a Magazine.  Seriously, how did this slip by the producer? Listen to the songs back to back, your jaw will hit the floor.  This is the kind of laziness that comes through the album as a whole and while not a total piece of crap, I can’t enthusiastically recommend Spread the Rumors to anyone.

With lackluster vocals, poor production value and boring, predictable songwriting, Socratic have failed to impress with their highly anticipated album Spread the Rumors.  With the amount of hype surrounding Socratic, I expected more.  However, what we were given was a major disappointment.

Stand Out Tracks:

“Devices”

“The Flood”

“A Tree and it’s Fruit”

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Cast your vote for Socratic to play this year’s Lollapalooza in Chicago! All it takes is one click HERE.

Also check out their video for “Boy In A Magazine” on mtv.com! Rate and comment their video to get them played on MTV!

Every vote and play counts! Tell all your friends!

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 IndieUprising #40: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (580)

Music By: Socratic. Pride Before The Fall. Polar Bear Club. Phantom Planet. Sera Cahoone. Brass. Steraon. The Cab. Pluto Revolts. Falco Does It Dirty. Incommunicado. Nothing Less. Oso Optimo. Pomegranates.

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 IndieUprising #30: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1047)

Featured Band: Cue the Doves. Interview with Jon Berndtson.

Music By: Medicated Kisses. Sylosis. Ahimsa Sunrise. The Apathy Eulogy. House of Fools. The Great Physician. Cue the Doves. Eyes Set to Kill. Victory at Last.

A Note From Sean:

I totally dropped the ball and pronounced Cue the Doves’ new album wrong. I said “Stabilizing Vocals.” It’s actually STABILIZING VITALS. My mistake. Sorry guys!

SEAN’S PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Sylosis
“Manipulation Through Idols” (mp3)
from “The Supreme Oppressor”
(In At The Deep End)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon
More On This Album

The Apathy Eulogy
“Baby Maybe” (mp3)
from “Beauty for Ashes”
(Quickstar Productions)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon
More On This Album

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The Indie Review
By Sean Duregger
February 19, 2008

Artist: Say No More
Album: What You Thought You Knew
Label: Drive-Thru Records

Rating:

Say No More was in the right place at the right time when they won Drive-Thru Records and mtvU’s Best Music on Campus battle of the bands in 2006. This led to a contract with Drive-Thru Records and on October of 2007, Say No More burst on the scene with their national debut, What You Thought You Knew. A stand-up-and-dance record full of pop hooks with a dash of indie sensibility.

Say No More have a lot going for them on this album. With two full length independently released albums already under their belt, Say No More show incredible diversity as well as knowing how to write a catchy hook. You’ll be singing along by the end of most of these songs.

Showing growth and diversity on their Drive-Thru Records debut, What You Thought You Knew,Say No More is not a flavor of the week band. While not re-inventing anything musically, Say No More has given us a solid and like-able batch of songs. Enough to make even the most cynical person tap their feet, What You Thought You Knew is an uplifting and refreshing release.

Stand Out Tracks:

“Only When I Sleep”
“The Genius”
“Honestly”

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Drive-Thru Records is letting you sample some of their bands! Check it all out below!

1 ) Drive-Thru Records is offering a free 13-song sampler, available for download now at Purevolume: http://www.purevolume.com/promotions/drivethru/2008sampler/
The sampler features new tracks from Ace Enders (ex-The Early November, Socratic, Steel Train, You Me and Everyone We Know, and more.

2 ) You Me and Everyone We Know has a new 8-song EP available for free download now at AbsolutePunk: http://www.absolutepunk.net/artists/showlink.php?do=showdetails&l=3162

About You Me and Everyone We Know, Max Bemis from Say Anything has said “I just got their new EP and it crushes booty.”

3) House of Fools’ new music video for “My Life Before Today” was just posted on MySpace:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=26708894

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I’m happy to announce that I will be adding Drive-Thru Records to the IndieUprising family!

Richard Reines is the man. If you get a chance, you can hear an interview with Richard on the AP Podcast. Subscribe via iTunes (you won’t regret it).

I’ll be receiving music soon, so stay tuned!

.sean

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