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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Yes, I’m plugging another Podcast.

Drive Thru Records band, Socratic is featured on Mark Hoppus‘ new podcast on HiMyNameIsMark.com! Check it out to hear “Boy in a Magazine” and an interview with Duane.

I’ll be getting them on the show soon as well and will be reviewing their new album, Spread The Rumors which will be in stores May 6th.

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 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1177)

Music By: Look Mexico. The Cordova Academy Glee Club. Call it Arson. The Out_Circuit. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. Rocky Votolato. Nada Surf. Lights Out Dancing. Say No More. Grand Archives. Socratic. Upon Beauty Rests. Oh The Blood. Jeremy Enigk.

SEAN’S PICKS OF THE WEEK

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of Mars Volta
“Calibration” (mp3)
from “Calibration”
(N2O Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at GroupieTunes
Buy at mTraks Download
More On This Album

Oh The Blood
“Heartbreak” (mp3)
from “This World Needs No Introduction”
(Quickstar Productions)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at GroupieTunes
Buy at mTraks Download
More On This Album

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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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