Over It

Hindsight 20/20 (2001)

Jeremy Rogers

I am a jaded, old man. I have seen it all before, I have heard it all before. I don't want to know which emo-punk band is signing to a major. I don't care about their all-acoustic CD. I give new bands no chance, writing them off as poseurs or bandwagon-hoppers without as much as a listen. I probably think your favorite band sucks, too.

However, with their fierce live show, manly good looks, and excellent new EP "Hindsight 20/20," Virginia's OVER IT has restored my faith in new-school-emo-pop-punk-rock-whatever-core. ‘Hindsight' boasts five absolute rockers, with an unlisted sixth acoustic track tacked on the end, I'm guessing, so they can score more chicks.

Highlights include "Blackball," a straight-up hardcore blast complete with cool chugga-chugga break down ala LIFETIME, that clocks in at a minute and a half and "B-54," my favorite track off the disc, a mid-tempo rocker that will be stuck in your head for weeks.

Peter's vocals are great. An original delivery and insightful lyrics really set him apart from other front men of the genre. Best lyric: As for pipe dreams/You label me/I'll level you (from "Blackball").

The guitar work is outstanding. Nick and Peter keep it interesting with some solid solos and inventive playing without being pretentious.

But Seth and James are they backbone of the band, one of the most solid rhythm sections around. The bass really locks in with the kick drum and doesn't get too busy or distracting. And James keeps it simple and tight, hitting his snare harder than anyone I've seen.

I recently read a review on this site of OVER IT's first CD and someone commented that they hadn't yet reached their full potential. Well, this opinionated old man thinks that with this release, they have.