Canterbury Effect

Item: An Exercise in Humility
Author: Nate Bailey

An Exercise in Humility

(2001)

Reviewed by Nate Bailey

Discogs Bandcamp Apple Music TIDAL Spotify

Label Pluto RecordsDecapolisJanuary 2002

emo hardcore indie rock pop punk

The Canterbury Effect formed two years ago in Brazil, IN. This album was produced by Ed Rose (Appleseed Cast, Get Up Kids, Etc) and released on Pluto Records.

The Canterbury Effect (What is it about bands sticking "effect/theory/conspiracy" in their name? Stop already.) concentrates their sound in the punk/emo neighborhood with "heavy" influences from The Get Up Kids. Perhaps it's because this album was produced by Ed Rose, producer of the Get Up Kids, but this album has a very, very similar sound. The main thing that "An Exercise in Humility" lacks is consistency in tempo. Songs that should be up-tempo start off too slow and go down hill. The songs offer weakly played dynamics that aren't tight and seem forced. The recording also leaves a lot to be desired. The bass drum isn't well recorded and lacks the punch that it should be delivering. The guitars search for the "right" sound for the genre, but instead they sound like the volume is too low and the energy of the players has been depleted. The vocals in songs such as "Rocky Mountain Love Letters" desires an emotionally desperate pleading "effect", but they end up sounding painful to the listener. "Conversations" gets bogged down and urges the listener to quickly change the track.

While I have no problem with this genre of music in general, The Canterbury Effect just doesn't cut it. Lack of energy, creativity, and recording weaknesses earns "An Exercise in Humility" what it does.

D+