Number One Gun (NOG) is another new pop emo band on Tooth and Nail's ever-changing artist lineup. Promises for the Imperfect is their sophomore release following their Floodgate Records debut, Celebrate Mistakes. NOG follows the road much-traveled, utilizing a pop punk inspired indie rock with vulnerable and "sensitive" vocals. Unoriginality aside, NOG crafts relatively interesting songs, that aren't quite as bad as a first listen might indicate.
The stereotype that NOG fits doesn't help them and ultimately the fact that they fit it so well is why they fail at creating a great work. Songs like "We Are" are fun and obvious radio candy, but lack the substance Promises for the Imperfect needs. NOG does have strength in their ballads, as they have many different layers added in them that make them more unique. The producer, Aaron Sprinkle (Anberlin, Acceptance) is probably responsible for this, as he often adds little gems like this to each of the albums he produces. "Life is What You Make It" is obviously the best song on the album, and closes it on a positive note.
Though NOG has some decent work here, the album blurs together into a general haze of pop emo mediocrity. Song for song it's decent enough, but as a total work Promises for the Imperfect leaves a little to be desired.
2/4
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