Customer Reviews

Aghast Agape

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you like bands like Bauhaus, Joy Division, Interpol you are going to like Prosaics. As soon as I heard this band I had to go out and get this EP. They will soon have a full album in 2005 but prepare yourself for it by listening to this. The guitars are solid, vocals are real smooth and the melodies are so catchy. It is dark post punk but this band puts their own spin on that sound, and I highly suggest checking this out. These are 5 really strong songs, and people who have seen them live tell me that the best is yet to come. "Teeth" is such a cool track. If you like this band, Check out a band called the Organ. They are like a female version of this band. Order this, as it can be hard to find in most record shops!

When I came across this trio from NYC my inner hipster was at once appalled at the band's likeness to Interpol: 1) formal dark attire 2) being recorded by Peter Katis at Tarquin Studios CT 3) being signed to Matador 4) being described as another 70s-80s post-punk revival band 5) having very cute faces and perfect hair. But when I bought Aghast Agape and stuck in my CD player, I was blown away. This music needs to be set apart from their image. It is truly special. Buy this EP while it is still readily available, before the hype machine begins. Prosaics are gritty, primal, anxious, and technically competent (more so than Interpol? eek). They sport complex and passionate song writing, and they are not at all oppressive or stiff. My two criticisms: I wish the songs chosen for the EP demonstrated more of the group's variety (I have a feeling the band is sitting on some slower tracks for their LP); and their lyrics, are, well, prosaic (they might be trying a bit too hard). I believe this band will be touring in small venues soon, go see them before you have to claw your way through a larger audience to see. Oh and by the way, they sound NOTHING like Interpol. They sound, well, like Prosaics.

This band has been impressing people since they formed, and even this EP doesn't showcase all of their talents. (Watch for a Matador LP next year). I love the lyrical poetry, catchy guitars and all the Prosaics songs just stick in my head. These three guys are very talented individually and in trio, they just have so much potential. I saw them tour with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, open for Interpol, but at the last CMJ they just ripped and roared and held their own as a solid act. For what it's worth and I think it is worth something, they are really nice guys too (I bought my EP from them after a show).

Prosaics can easily be compared to Interpol. And it's very true that they both delve into the same gloomy post-punkish arena, both owing much to The Smiths, Joy Division, Bauhaus, & etc. etc. I bought this album after seeing the band play live at an artshow. They're pretty good live, and the music surprisingly sounds deeper live. It may just be bad production but the gloominess they seem to be trying to attain just doesn't quite work with the crunch of their guitars or the lead singer. It's just not delicate enough to capture the atmosphere that they seem so desperately to work after. Teeth is an exceptional track, but their songwriting seems a little to jumpy and poppy. Admittedly Interpol, whom seem to draw upon the same inspirations, have crafted great gothish indie rock songs, but at the expense of critics dismissing their music altogether for so obviously using formulaic structures and well known sounds. Prosaics don't fall into that trap as often as Interpol has, and here I must commend them. But Interpol has grown to be able to use their inspirations in ways that totally freshen what could otherwise sound stale and boring, Prosaics just haven't grown to a point where their songwriting is strong enough to carry the gloominess without blatantly copying another band. But they're extremely promising. The album itself is a lovely black glossy of a Bill Henson photograph. Although this is a pretty good sampler, there are about two really good songs and the rest fall slightly into the filler category, I'm certain that Prosaics will blossom and find more confidence in their writing. I'm very excited to hear a full album by them.