Garden Variety
Knocking the Skill Level (1995)
eatdogs
This is a hard review to write because this is technically a
Post-Hardcore/Emo band from the 90’s and I’ve all but spent pretty much
everything I can say about the genre that makes sense on a surface level
without getting to some emotional well that ends up being embarrassing to read
in hindsight…
The reality of this is simple. Garden Variety were an
amazing band that was short lived and released a small handful of music,
toured, did one music video, and then broke up. That is it. Where I have to do
work is in explaining why you should listen to this one particular band and
with that, I’m exhausted because it’s really simple to go down the same routes
of information like, “This band had that Midwest sound”, or “They remind me of
Cap’n Jazz/Braid/Texas is the Reason etc…” and also, “They paved the way for
future acts to follow with honest, emotional lyrics that weren’t afraid to be
heart-on-sleeve”. Ugh, gross.
Here’s what I can say. I discovered this band through a
massive Mediafire link titled “Emo is Dead” that was floating around on some
music forums back in probably 2007-2008. Maybe it was this large post on the
Bridge-9 boards that had emo as a topic, which amazingly, wasn’t taken down for
a long period of time. Many obscure bands being mentioned and extremely awesome
links to download these out of print forgotten treasures, that one forum topic
was a revelation. At least from what I can remember.
Snuggled in that huge collection was Garden Variety and one
album called Knocking the Skill Level.
I gave it a listen and just like when I first heard to the band Chocolate Kiss
(check that band out seriously!) I was immediately struck with awe. This band
sounded different from the rest. They do not sound like all the other bands
that often come up, no; these people were on the opposite edge it seemed. Not
to say that they were experimental and weird. Nope, not at all. In fact, they
seemed a bit more subdued, but with actual melody!
This is where to define the band in reference to sound
becomes hard, but try this: Think the riffage of Superchunk with the epic
buildups of Sonic Youth. Throw in angst and no so great, but adequate singing
and you sort of have a picture of Garden Variety for better or worse. Now those
are just simple elements that come to mind, but you can also hear other acts
like Native Nod, Shiner, and the 1.6 Band. See now I am referencing other artists
and I did not want to do that…
I feel that this band deserves attention and I was thinking
while reviewing this again, many years later after first listen, that it would
be great if they came out now and totally blew away all the muck related to the
associated genres. I stopped thinking that though after pondering on the merits
of the so called scene fans who live this stuff. Would they even care about Garden
Variety? Sadly, I rather doubt it and that is a shame because this needs to be
heard.
I leave this review wanting to mention only one song from
the album. Track 7, “Room 183”. This is the standout song. It is the longest
and the one with the greatest amount of work from the band. The singing is on
point and the lyrics hit hard and are relatable. The buildup of instrumentals
is exquisite and it’s a heavy dose of what makes Emo music matter in so many
ways. It feels like this hidden room or maybe a secret waiting to be said. The
honesty is felt and the struggle seems real. What is it about this music that
taps into some middle class livelihood of latchkey kids feeling blue on a
weekday? It’s almost like standing in the street looking down the block and wondering
what’s wrong with me, what is going on in my life?
Music can only do so much. Once the song is over you can hit
repeat and play it again, but you will get the same song. In this case, that is
a good thing.
Dig it…