Plankeye

Item: Relocation
Author: Steve White

Relocation

(1999)

Reviewed by Steve White

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Label BEC RecordingsThe Phantom Tollbooth1999

alternative rock indie rock pop rock power pop

What happens to a band when the lead singer and drummer leave? They break up, right? Not in Plankeye's case. Guitar player Eric Balmer and bass player Luis Garcia have kept the band's name to record the new album Relocation for BEC. Lead singer Scott Silletta is now fronting Fanmail and drummer Adam Ferry is on staff at a California church.

This is the band's fifth album, and their first for BEC. Plankeye evolved quickly from its early pop punk sound to a fuller rock sound on their third, breakthrough album, Commonwealth. From there, the foursome explored a sound more reminiscent of the band Live on the slower, darker album The One and Only. Yet listeners could find a common element between those albums in rocking songs like "Someday," "Commonwealth" and "BC."

You won't find many moments like that on the solid but bland Relocation. Although it is a nice collection of okay songs, it lacks strong, standout tracks. For example, the album starts with "Say Now That You're Sorry," a straightforward but disappointing rock song that's missing the big meaty hooks older Plankeye songs were built on. Overall, the album features the kind of homogenized rock and roll that radio loves so much these days, but fans will want more.

One exception may be the melancholy "Goodbye," which invokes memories of some of Plankeye's best slow tracks. Although you can't help but wonder if the band needs to listen to their own lyrics:

Goodbye
Walk away. It's time to say goodbye.
Now all that's left are pictures on the wall.
Memories and stories that are told.

Balmer and Garcia have taken on lead vocals, but without Scott Silletta at the microphone, it's hard to imagine this is the same band. The two remaining members just don't make up for Silletta's loss, because neither of them musters Silletta's sense of energy and intensity. On "I Can't Complain" Balmer and Garcia sing together, but not in any sort of harmony. Instead, the vocals seem to be competing with each other.

Compared to the loss of a lead singer, however, the departure of drummer Adam Ferry is not immediately evident. Fold Zandura's Frank Lenz fills in behind the drums well. But it still remains to be seen who will pound the skins when Plankeye hits the road.

Technically speaking, the album's production is solid. Studio whiz Gene Eugene is once again at the helm, but he should have encouraged the band to pick up the tempo in places. Too many of the songs fall into a mid-tempo wasteland which is a far cry from the pop-punk sounds that attracted thousands of fans to Commonwealth-era Plankeye, while they were on their first big national tour opening for the Newsboys.

Although Relocation isn't devoid of merit, it doesn't live up to the high standards Plankeye has set in the past. Balmer and Garcia have been part of four great Plankeye albums, but this one definitely does not sound like the best record to date for a mature band.

2.5 tocks