Faultlines
Travelogue (2004)
Brian Shultz
Like Braid on an indie rock overhaul, you'll probably find yourself using terms like "yearning," "angular," "driving," and perhaps even "rocking" in listening to Faultlines' Travelogue. There's an honest plead of desperation in the vocals that reminds me of The Ghost quite often as he yells over snarling, tick-tock guitars and commanding drum lines.
While every song carries a distinctly different feel and orchestration, its cohesiveness stays intact. Although a better opener could've been chosen over the instrumental "Modern Traveler," which feels more akin to a mid-album track, everything else seems to fit well, even the six-and-a-half-minute "Sirens and Sailors," stuck right in the middle. "Upon Deaf Ears" is the best example of the explosive, upbeat, rhythmic-in-a-Hot Water Music sense that the band is capable of, though. They aren't big on typical verse-chorus structure for most of the album, but they apply it on this song, and it results in an emotional, tempo-breaking declaration that could very well be the highlight of the CD.
It's really the track-to-track transitions and lyrics that are both noteworthy in helping connecting the album amongst itself. Sometimes an abrupt drum fill will immediately open a following song, and sometimes a quick, ear-catching riff, but whatever it is, it connects the tracks nicely. The art of not necessarily concept albums, but rather a connecting theme seems to be lost on a lot of full-lengths these days, which is why it's nice to hear the band actually try and provide it after challenging themselves with the title. Addressing empty roads and beaten paths (both literally and metaphorically), the band provides this journal as a backdrop to both inquisitive thought and pseudo-psychological insight.
I know it seems like I already made a comparison like this one that name-dropped in eerily similar ways, but the difference here is, Faultlines is making it work. Not spectacularly, but they're making it work. They're fairly sure of a direction, and not only do they actually try to move in it, but it's one that strives as a challenge for originality. At just under fifty minutes, it's definitely ambitious for a first effort, but with a little cleanup in the production department and just a little more focus, they could definitely wow with their sophomore stab.
MP3
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Upon Deaf Ears
Augten