![mewithoutYou — [A->B] Life cover](/art/502a4ad60d45bf.webp)
Produced by J. Robbins, MeWithoutYou's Tooth & Nail debut rings of D.C. and Chicago. Sharp harmonic melodies, on huge bass lines, loosely attaching erratic, frenetic, jangling verses to each other. 60s, 70s, and 90s guitar tones are delivered as an anti-human tunnel of sound, snidely repressing and stirring emotion that frantic vocals will most often betray. Downtime numbers like "Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt" remind me of the late 80s/early 90s underground, with chilling ambience and frightening sonic eruptions. A lot of the songs have a Mission to Burma, Fugazi, more violent Slint feel and structure to them, and even have hints of Focused (i.e. Bow). Modern bands like Sigur Ros and Q And Not U are given nods, as well. While a couple songs get monotonous and redundant, [A-->B] Life is an unnerving, masterfully played and arranged, discerningly influenced post punk album, for sure. Hard to put in, but profoundly hard to take your attention away from once it's spinning. Play alone.
Editors' ratings - Doug 3.5/5, Jason 3.5/5
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis August 2002Reviewed by Nate BaileyMe Without You is releasing, this their first full length, with Tooth and Nail Records. Musically, MWY has what it takes to keep you interested. However, what gets in the way is the barrage that is the vocal delivery. The spoken/shouted attack set to music is a hard listen, especially by the 3rd song. The vocal parts duplicate each other as each song goes by. Musically, the production work of J.…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Bert GanglGiven the turtleneck shirts, skinny ties and semi-matching suits of their publicity photos, one might justifiably assume that the members of mewithoutYou would fashion their sound around the upbeat, melodic music of first-wave British Invasion artists like the Beatles and the Kinks. While it's true that virtually any rock or pop outfit formed during the last 40 years has been influenced to some…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Ken MuellerIn addition to the fact that these guys are from Philly, mewithoutYou has a lot going for them. Most of the bands in the punk and hardcore worlds are beginning to sound like products of the same factory, with each band indistinguishable from the rest. But mewithoutYou is a refreshing change from all of that. This disc (pronounce "A to B Life") is a study in contrasts. The band explores both…Opus 2002Reviewed by Jason MoreheadThis wasn't too encouraging. Mewithoutyou's press sheet began with the phrase "Rock isn't dangerous any more," implying that the disc I was about to slip into the stereo was capable of redeeming rock n' roll from "faux-angst and lip gloss." It's a pretty gutsy assumption, and one that I'd normally smirk at, before tossing the CD onto the "better luck next time" pile. But Mewithoutyou had an ace…Similar sounding releases
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