Ransom Tree

Item: Pictures and Everything
Author: Justin W. Jones

Pictures and Everything

(2000)

Reviewed by Justin W. Jones

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Jeweltone RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2000

emo indie rock

The word "emo" has been used and abused by too many bands who want to try to fit into the "in-crowd." Let's face it, it's usually the disturbed artists, with dyed-black bowl cuts, high water pants, tight t-shirts, and Converse All Stars that bebop and listen to the emo/indie scene. It's not too often that the Audio Adrenaline crowd walks around sporting a The Get Up Kids t-shirt, so I was taken by surprise when I opened the CD to discover that my preconceived ideas of where the scene was headed were smashed. Sporting an MxPx shirt, and at the same time young and innocent looking stood Ransom Tree. Yes, the day has arrived, and long overdue: Indie's headed towards the mainstream, and the crowd is getting younger. (Let's cross our fingers and pray that the rap-core trend has died.)

Ransom Tree's music fits perfectly into the "emo" category that I was describing earlier. Their style is a mix of Red Stars Theory, The Get Up Kids, and Smashing Pumpkins, with a lyric sheet that's as spiritual as a novel by Philip Yancey. It's almost to the level of a praise and worship album but not quite due to the poetically abstract songs. Several songs on the album caught my attention. The song "fifty-one" has the formula "emo" guitars with spoken words of Psalm 51 building up, then rocking out to a beat David never imagined. And the title track "pictures and everything" was the fave track with a catchy pop groove, and a cello/violin to back it up. This song showcased the keen sense of melody they have in songwriting, and the talent they have for musical arrangement.

Now that was all said for one reason. This album is not one that would make you run out to your record store and purchase the album, but it is one that leaves you looking for a second album. Pictures and Everything has poor vocals, and too many predictable progressions, but at the same time this album is hinting at a promising group that could easily mature into the forefront. These guys barely look old enough to drive, and I hope that they aren't; that way they can spend more time polishing up the rough edges on their sound. It's a good debut from a young band, who can easily have a great sophomore release.

2.5 tocks