Us stoic album critics are like wooden totem poles. We get taller when our journalist peers notch another "scalp" in the pole due to a witty put-down of a quality-challenged band (especially if that band consists of famous rock stars). In reviewing this album, I feel like this band is attacking me -- only with sandpaper, perhaps attempting to smooth out my critical side. Any given song here, like "Ollie Otson," for example, pampers my melodic sense with a light, fine grit; massaging me with infectious harmonies before launching into screams that become coarse, abrasive low grit sandpaper that gauges huge layers from my psyche. As much as this hurts, it feels good -- real good!
Editors' ratings - Doug 4/5, Jason 2.5/5
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis August 2002Reviewed by Nate BaileyDead Poetic is releasing "Four Wall Blackmail," their debut with Solid State records. They formed in 1997 and are from Dayton, OH. Dead Poetic is a new addition to Solid State. Their sound is what I like to call "Sing-Song Hardcore." It's a growing sound that has been popularized by Thursday. While one might compare D.P. to Thursday, I have no problem promoting them as better. For one, the…Art for the Ears 2002Reviewed by Marco PovervestWhen I put on this CD it was like playing a new Embodyment CD, with a different singer. Musically the comparison is easily made as Dead Poetic seems to pour from the same sources. They also took the same producer and the two bands will be touring together soon. Yet Dead Poetic isn't a copycat band. The first track might easily have been written by Embodyment, the next couple of songs are showing…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Shelby FosterEvery band would like to imagine that they sport an entirely original sound, but know that (in reality) they peddle songs that are slightly modified composites of their influences. Nowhere is this more apparent than on Dead Poetic's debut, where the overall sound initially seems quite unique sensitive emo meets angst-driven metalcore but, when broken down, is a simple enmeshing of The Juliana…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Trae CadenheadThe creation of original sounding music must be quite a formidable task these days. With the thousands of bands and artists that have gutted the market, carving a niche outside of the ordinary is becoming more and more difficult. Thus, it should not come as a surprise that virtually every new Tooth & Nail band that has come along in recent days has borne some kind of striking resemblance to…Similar sounding releases
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