Customer Reviews

Us Songs

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This Elliott's debut album showed their particular way of doing hardcore music (a Radiohead influence dominates some songs) and also showed what it would came with their new album False Cathedrals that puts them in a different level.

I will admit that I missed this CD when it was first released. After I heard the masterpiece that is "False Cathedrals" (Elliott's newer LP), however, I had to pick this one up. I was not disappointed. The entire CD is great. This CD connects with the listener on an entirely different level than "False Cathedrals". "U.S. Songs" features songs that are more upbeat. It may be a different level, but it connects nonetheless; that is, in my opinion, one of the most important things for music. Connecting with the listener is one of the things that seperates bands like Elliott from the mainstream bands; they simply can't be compared.

Musically, Elliott is great. They are pure emotion with a lot of depth underneath. Solid all-around musicianship, coupled with Chris Higdin's wonderful vocals, makes an excellent final product. Whether you heard "False Cathedrals" and have become interested in Elliott, or you are thinking of trying some of their music out, I definitely recommend this CD. Elliott has got to be one of my favorite bands, and, if they continue to make CDs of this quality, they may be the sole owners of that position.

Wow. This is a truly original and creative band. Some of the best songs I've ever heard have been by this band. This is probably their most straight foward, rocking album to date. False Cathedrals was much more laid back and mellow, this is more in your face guitar blasting, great rock music. I can't pick a favorite Elliott album, because it all depends upon which mood I'm in. This is great for rocking out and just for bobbing your head and singing along. Most songs are very upbeat, with a few mellow songs thrown in. Elliott combine a great sound with one of the best vocalists I've heard. His voice is very high and beautiful, it sounds great. The only complaint is that sometimes, he gets so carried away and so into the music, that you can't understand a word he says. But that's ok, because the music is still top-notch, and his voice couldn't sound any better. A beautiful, moving album, U. S. Songs is a must have for any music fan. This is one of my all time favorite CD's, and one of my favorite bands. Elliott are probably the best band to come out of Louisville, ever. Check out everything this band does, because they are great people and have a huge talent for writing and playing some of the best music I've ever heard.

Elliott
US Songs; 1999
Revelation Records

My Rating: 9/10

When US SONGS was released in 1998, ELLIOTT was one of the most hyped bands in Louisville's all ages scene. Forming around ex-Falling Forward frontman Chris Higdon, the band had previously released one magnificent two-song 7' and made several increasingly great live appearances around town clad in white and black, performing with the kind of vigor and intensity usually reserved for Olympic athletes. They also represented something entirely refreshing in a scene full of cheesy hardcore and corny pop-punk acts.

With ELLIOTT now defunct, the band remains best known for its more atmospheric work on FALSE CATHEDRALS and SONG IN THE AIR. Not to take anything away from those two magnificent records, I'll always cherish US SONGS as something utterly unique and special above them. It's not that the musicianship is any better herein - the truth is ELLIOTT occasionally sounds clunky on US SONGS as opposed to the fluid sound of the later records. It's simply that the ideas overflow on this record, and the band sounds bright and exceedingly unimpressed with itself. And did I mention that this was the band's only power pop record? When I say power pop, I put the stress on POWER.

The record opens in a burst of energy with the gorgeous "Miracle," before transitioning to the instrumental "Intro." What Elliott lacks in musical prowess they make up for in melodic sensibility, and nowhere is that more evident than on "Intro." The track develops around a simple, slightly distorted guitar line, as pretty as it is powerful. "The Conversation" builds to a dynamic climax, and "Dionysus Burning" is about as straight forward as you're going to get on this record. Although this recording of "The Watermark High" is inferior to the early recording found on the band's IN TRANSIT single (featuring first drummer Ben Lord), it nevertheless fits in well with the rest of the record.

"Every Train That Passes" rocks it all mid-tempo fashion, and the driving "Suitcase and Atoms" is a definite highlight. My personal favorite is track 8, the short epic "Second Story Skyscaper." This is one of those tracks that seems pieced together from various songwriting fragments, but the sum is greater than the parts in this case. "Alchemy as a Rhythm" gets things moving in a hard rock direction again, and features some of Higdon's best vocals.

"Ten Cent Inquiry" and "Safety Pin Explanation" close the record in minor key fashion, a downer twinge after a mostly bright-eyed record. I suppose it was indicative of the direction Elliott was to take. Within the next year or so they would release a few more singles of a decidedly less sunny sound, and by the time FALSE CATHEDRALS hit in 2001, the band was completely transformed into the atmospheric emo champions of common renown.

But as I said before, the Elliott of US SONGS is the Elliott I will always remember as the greatest incarnation. What this band could do with a few guitar chords and a lot of enthusiasm still blows me away. If you've never heard this first LP from the seminal Louisville band, or if you wrote Elliott off after hearing their later work, give US SONGS a chance.

the debut lp for the band from louisville is a great one. filled with emotional, personal lyrics, and hard sounding guitaring, its an essential album for indie lovers. the difference between elliott and other hardcore/emo/punk (whatever) band is that instead of ur nasal, obnoxious, raspy voice, frontman chris higdon uses beautiful sounding soft airy vocals (although sometimes incomprehensible.) the second lp of elliott's is far better than this, but think of U S songs as a blueprint for the fantastic band elliott would become.

I saw Elliot live a while back and was absolutely stunned by their performance. I only recently heard this album and I am not suprised by how good it is. These Kentuckians capture elements of emo and electronica that I love most. Somehow these ingredients add up to what I can only describe as ambient rock ballads.

This record is simply amazing - whether you already know of Elliott or not, all you need is a good taste in music and you will be satisfied with this debut full-length. If you were a fan of the emo-greats Falling Forward then this will not dissappoint, because Elliott is basically the nucleus of Falling Forward plus a few others. This is an absolute gem of a record and comes highly recommended. THE best of 1998.

This band is awesome, although their style is not original they pull it off extremely well. The type of music I like really dosen't have a particular genre although some people call it post emo I don't think that really fits. Sunny Day Real Estate is my favorite band, I was on the internet looking for bands that sounded like they fit in the same genre and I found Elliott, there are a shoe in. If you like Sunny Day Real Estate you should check out Elliot, in the same respect if you like Elliot you will love Sunny Day Real Estate.