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[CD REVIEWS]

Giving Chase - "With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies?"
Too Much Caffeine Records
Review By: Alisa W.

What more can I say about Giving Chase that I haven't already? Their shows got me through my college years in central PA and I've been praising them in my show and album reviews ever since. Their latest release, is a limited edition EP only available on tour, more specifically the tour they just finished up with Punchline and Student Rick. It's only three songs and an interview but still worth buying, 'cause it will no doubt be a collectors thing once these guys make it big, and they will, that I promise you. New lineup change once again, but are you suprised anymore - this band sees new members more often than new underwear, probably. For this new CD and tour they've added two very cute new boys, bassist Anthony, whom I've also seen perform many times with his previous band, drunk-rockers the Digglers, and also guitarist Jimmy Chan, who used to sweeten up the stage playing for Empire State Games.

The first song, and only new song on the disc "Faker" is a driving indie/emo song that starts off real slow and melodic, but then just sort of explodes into a fistful of angst and yearning. Singer Mike Woliansky's lyrics as always come from all directions and give you the visual of him screaming at a wall as he's penning his latest. This song also happens to be a live favorite of mine, as they breakdown after the 2nd chorus is mesmerising. The other two songs are acoustic recordings, done very D.I.Y. style in the back of the band's tour van. "Almost Half Full" is a song from their previous CD, Still Waiting, and they also do an acoustic cover of Jawbreaker's "Chesterfield King." At first, the jarring emotional electricity of the first track mixing with the subtle acoustic numbers doesn't quite sound right, but after the initial listen it grows on you quite a bit. The 4th "track" is an audio interview done by Paranoia Fanzine at a show in St. Mary's, PA, lasting about twenty or so mins, and is quite funny. It's hard to guess just how drunk the guys were as they answered questions, but fun to listen to.

4 out of 5 stars

Moral of the story: You should have bought "With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies?" when you saw them on tour, because after it's over, you won't be able to find it anywhere!

Tracks Listing:

1. Faker
2. Almost Half Full(Acoustic)
3. Chesterfield King(Acoustic)
4. Interview Segment(Paranoia Fanzine)