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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
one of the best of 2003, December 1, 2003
By A Customer
With their debut album, Solid Guild, Portland,OR-based the Joggers have done a remarkable job of expanding the possibilities of a traditional pop-rock quartet. Boasting a sound influenced by bands such as the Fall, Polvo, and -- most of all -- Pavement, the Joggers represent not an amalgam, but an evolution of their predecessors.On "Loosen Up," the first of many precious stones on Solid Guild, the Joggers stretch and take us on a warm-up run prior to commencing the 11-song race that makes up the rest of the disc. "Loosen Up" is not only the slowest song on the album, but a sort of three-minute Philosophy of the Joggers as Ben Whitesides sings, "What makes us think that we're smart when we don't even know how it will end/ What makes us think that we're old when we don't even know when it began." And indeed, anyone looking for a soundtrack to contemplate the darker sides of human existence should not choose Solid Guild, which is more of a NOW That's What I Call Music! 23 for college radio station DJs. Following "Loosen Up," the race begins with "Hot Autism," where Whitesides and Murphy Kasiewicz earn their stripes as true indie guitar heroes. Keeping up with the dynamic duo are the consistent drumming of Jake Morris and bass playing of Darrell Bourque. Another contender for best song would have to be "Neon Undercarriage," whose poppy, yet innovative melody starts with the bass and drum alternating leads before the guitars kick in and the four stroll along, complete with all four members contributing on vocals. "Blurred Digits," the second-to-last track on the album, is perhaps the best demonstration of Whitesides and Kasiewicz's slanted and enchanted guitar playing. Starting out from a fade-up, the song slowly builds until halfway through the song, at which point the guitars race ahead of the pack until Morris' symbols slowly bring them back to a steadier pace. Besides the innovative guitar tunings that would make Sonic Youth beam with pride, tracks like "Back To The Future," "Little Kings," and "Same To You" feature claps, cow bells, and barbershop-quartet-style vocals that distinguish the Joggers from other bands. All told, Solid Guild leaves us with the impression of a band trying to utilize the experimental guitar work and vocal styles of Pavement, Polvo, and the Fall while adding the occasional acoustic anomaly, all of which keeps the songs fun and light hearted. Packed with melodic songs that are catchy, yet unpredictable, the disc and its creators stand out as one of the finest to emerge in 2003.
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by The Joggers 
