Abandoned Pools shows their potential on Armed to the Teeth.
Abandoned Pools is a rock outfit from Los Angeles. Growing rapidly in listeners, the last track on "Armed to the Teeth", "Goodbye Song", was recently played on Laguna Beach.
The disc starts off well with "Lethal Killers", a song about religion in general. Very catchy. The lyrical content continues down a more intellectual path than most bands. Meaning, instead of rambling on about girls, Abandoned Pools sings of the apocalypse and about the evils of money. Granted, some are about failed relationships. However, the album has a nice blend of lyrics.
Musically, they compare themselves to Joy Division and U2. Shades of Coldplay are visible as well. They are moments in "Armed to the Teeth" when Abandoned Pools cranks up the distortion and cuts vocalist Tommy Walters loose. That said, the vast majority of the album is more subdued with lots of keyboard and clean guitar. Those are the spots where Tommy Walters shines. He has a unique voice and packs amazing range. The previously mentioned "Goodbye Song" is one of the best all around tracks on the album. It is a song I find myself singing to myself almost everyday. Again, a testimonial to the quality of the album in general.
I think the album really has a lot to offer for fans of this type of music. Abandoned Pools are really up and coming. They are definitely not another MTV hybrid despite the Laguna Beach spot...which surprised me. From beautiful melodies to contemplative lyrics, Abandoned Pools has produced an album well worth listening to.
3/4
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