| While I was one of those who was sad to see The Get Up Kids end, It wasn't all bad. For if it hadn't
and James Dewees hadn't created his solo project Reggie and the Full Effect, there would be a lot
less cool things in the world. One example being the video for their old song, "Get Well Soon,"
which saw a stuffed Nessie going around town. Nuts I know and that's why I like it so much. So
that's why when I heard about James' fifth album, "Last Stop: Crappy Town" I knew I had to give it a
spin asap.
Well if you were wondering if Reggie had changed after the long awaited 3 year gap between albums,
then you will be delighted to know this isn't a far leap from his sound of before. The keyboard
foundations of every song are still intact and even take stabs into uncharted grounds like records
before it. The record also takes dips into different genres such as soft indie and rough vocaled
hardcore. (all while maintaining synth overtones).
I noticed Reggie replacing the normally confusing song titles for an even more confusing set of song
titles named after streets. But after thinking about it, Reggie And The Full Effect has always been
an outlet for random and out of the box thoughts, which is exactly what you get here. Creative
siphons from all types of rock all poured into a mixing pot of keyboard driven soup. (Silly
metaphor
I know) All I'm saying is that James is a surprising musician and Reggie is the perfect outlet for
it. Who cares if some of the songs sound reminiscent of old KoRn. (Feel free to laugh).
Either way "Last Stop: Crappy Town" is more of the same goodness that you have come to expect from
Reggie And The Full Effect, with all the unexpected and innovative creativity intact. It is one of
only a few musical entities that has managed to mix growling hardcore and melody filled indie into
one album. Enjoy this Last Stop because I'm hoping it's not Reggie's last stop, cause it would be a
crappy town without him in it.
~ Pernell
June 14 2008 |