Canadian band The Undecided has crafted a mixture of pop and punk on the second Tooth & Nail release, More to See. The result here is a sound that is Cheap Trick meets Rancid. Rife with buzzsaw guitars, fast and furious drumming, and a repetitive, fuzzy bass line, The Undecided do everything they can to earn their punk
credentials.
So why is this different from the typical punk album? Matt Fast's vocals and the quality of lyrics cause More to See to rise above standard punk fare. At times Fast sounds like Green Day, at others like Blink 182, while at other times he slips into Cheap Trick mode.
Lyrically, the songs have a lot to offer. "Time for Change" encourages us not to be lukewarm, and settle for the mediocrity that so many people have accepted. We are told to "say goodbye to who I used to be - say goodbye forever."
"Sand of Time" reminds us that friendships do not last forever, due to the changes people make in their lives. We are called to remember the good times and enjoy them while they last. In "Safe With Me," we see someone who is trying to help a bad situation simply by listening rather than to fix a problem they do not understand.
"Lifted" shows that when people fall, God will help them back to their feet, assuming they look to Him for help:
Because of your unfailing love,
You still choose to call me son,
And though I always break your heart,
You still hold on to me.
"What Happened to Our Love?" is a strong statement about self-righteousness, discussing Christians who are all too willing to point out the sin of others, without tempering their opinions with love and forgiveness. Truth is always right, but people will be driven away if we use it as a weapon to bludgeon others into submission.
More to See is loud and fast, frantic and reflective, and overall, a good time. I am not "Undecided" in saying that this a band that is on its way to gathering some attention for itself.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis January 2002Reviewed by Nate BaileyThe Undecided, Tooth and Nail's Canadian punk answer, follows up with their sophomore release with the label. Their music has been featured on MTV's Road Rules VS. The Real World, and Fox Sportnet. The Undecided uses Tooth and Nail as a shelter against the real punk scene. Remove the Tooth and Nail label distr. and advertising power and there's no way these guys could cut it. Their music is blah…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Matt RiddleThe undecided are a punk rock outfit from Canada. Signed to Tooth and Nail Records in 1999. More To See is their second studio release. Punk. Lots of punk. Everywhere you go, listen, read punk is there. Often criticized for being unskilled, homogeneous, and loud more than good it has still managed to have a nice little renaissance these last few years. Can the undecided make their mark? Well, to…Similar sounding releases
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