ssm01-"mock election
and the post selection" cd ep
released july 2000
suburban sprawl
music
LOST AT SEA (november issue 2000)
"Records like this are the reason that I keep reviewing music despite the obvious drawbacks of a mountain of bad records and people who have never met me hating my guts. When a Red Shirt Bridade comes along it makes it all worth it, or at least temporarily. I have a real soft spot for keyboard infected pop songs with a crazy amount of hooks and these Michigan kids deliver the goods in spades, even when the chips are down. For instance, "Purpose and Praise" shows some struggling on the lead vocals, perhaps due in part to poor lyrical content, and the backup vocals are completely unnecissary, yet the song ends up working entirely, although I don't know how. Next is the awesomely named "Haters of the Red Shirt" that solidifies my beleif that Red Shirt Brigade are what Wolfie would sound like if they had any taste. At six songs for seven bucks, this record is a great one!"
Reviewed
by Cassie Glanney
contact:
lost
at sea
BUDDYHEAD (december issue 2000)
"yeah, they like to rhyme just like me..except their emo emo emo is screaming, "kill me"...too booooring for my tastes..but it's not a complete waste..they've got talents, they know how to play..if you're emo this will make you dance and sway..so if you like tristeza, if you like instrumental..grab this one or at least take it for a rental."
(ryan's note: buddyhead gives funny ratings... instead of numbers, they pick 5 related images, expressing how the reviewer felt about a particular release... this month's featured axl rose in different stills from videos and magazines... this particular review had a still from the "november rain" video, where axl is sleeping... the rating, or classification delegated to the image is: "This record put Axl to sleep." It should be noted that this is not the worst review rating, but the second worst... )
Reviewed
by mc katastrophe
contact:
buddyhead
Gutlesszine (winter
2000)
"RSB's ear candy for 2000
is entitled 'mock election and the post selection' (a line from "Purpose
and
Praise"), and is on Michigan
label Suburban Sprawl. Having first had the pleasure of meeting and
hearing RSB in 1999, and
witnessing their live show (many times, but never enough), the RSB sound
is
now synonymous in my head
with glee. No frowny faces here. When they play, you get the
sense that
performing is exactly where
they want to be. In other words, they display an enthusiasm I have
rarely
seen in other artists.
No perpetual sadness here, even if they do play the occasional goth club.
The 6
track CD starts off with
a tease: the instrumental "Adam and Erik", which you wish would go a little
bit
longer, but it fades out
quickly. The 6th and final track, "More Aerobics", rises and falls,
bringing the
CD to an enthusiastic and
dangerously-catchy ending. In between, listeners are treated to an
orchestra
of youthful pop-filled recklessness.
The RSB live show is an even better representation of their appeal.
RSB has recently added a
new bassist, and are sure to continue making waves in popland."
Reviewed by Stephen Cramer
contact: gutlesszine
Posted on the Michigan Hardcore Website
Pop. A word most people in the, "hardcore" community despise. As did I at one time, but to those people who ears are as closed as their minds...WAKE THE FUCK UP! This record is a revolutionary piece of musicianship (ok, maybe that was a bit excessive...but its pretty damn good). RSB has been kicking around the Detroit music scene for about 2 years now. Creating intricate melodies and amazing harmonies, crossed with a new-wave pop sound that distinguishes them from the rest of the synth-driven rock bands that have found such recent popularity. From sing-a-long lyrics in, "purpose and praise" to the multi-layered sounds of, "haters of the red shirt" this Ep (put out on Suburban Sprawl Music) is a must buy, must have, must hear, must own...you get the point. Go get it!
(posted by Michael Gallacher)
contact: michigan
hardcore
DELUSIONS OF ADEQUACY
The Red Shirt Brigade's music is a snapshot of everything that is right with the world of indie pop music today. Melodic, intricate guitar parts, gloriously harmonic backing vocals, and an endless supply of cool Casio keyboard parts make Mock Election and the Post Selection one of Detroit's finest treasures.
Review by Gary Blackwell
PUNK PLANET
"Upbeat poppy indie rock with a pretty original sound. It's short, just six songs, but full
of oohs and aahs, swirling riffs and grooves sure to make your head bob."(DAL)
The EP begins with "Adam and Eric," a nice little acoustic-guitar based instrumental piece. I can see this track being used as the soundtrack for some "relationship" scene in a movie … Two lovers are walking down the street, laughing and holding hands - maybe stopping at some cute little sidewalk shops or cafes to look at fruit before winding up kissing in some passionate nighttime shot underneath a street lamp. "Easy, Just in Case" starts out a little spacey for me, but it quickly evolves into a tasty little nugget of pop mastery. The vocals are touching enough to seem sincere, but never get whiney enough to get annoying (something I've noticed that a lot of indie pop bands have a problem with). The nice backing harmony vocals in the chorus/bridge parts lead up to some really catchy 60's-esque "Ba-ba-ba-da-ba" vocal parts. Good, good stuff.
The next track, "Strychnine Police/Death Arcade," has endeared itself as my favorite track on the disc. Soothing Casio sounds wash through the backing track, creating a real atmosphere of floating around out in space somewhere. The chorus, "We don't have to die," sticks in your head like peanut butter to the roof of your mouth. The Casio break in mid-song just absolutely rules, and the breakbeat instrumental piece ("Death Arcade") tacked onto the song is a nifty little way to end the track. Definitely the dreamiest track on the album. "Purpose and Praise" is yet another scrumptious pop delight. This one seems like the perfect soundtrack for an autumn day spent walking through a park, holding hands and standing in awe of the leaves changing colors and falling all around … There's a great bridge in this song leading into an 'accelerated' musical break, nicely blending the bopping bass and firm guitar with some more of that wholesome Casio goodness that we all know and love.
When I read that the title of the next song was "Haters of the Red Shirt," I was dumbstruck - How could anyone possibly hate the Red Shirt Brigade? (Well, with the exception of maybe hardcore Slipknot fans, but they don't count.) Once I got past that mind-boggling question, I was able to slouch back in my chair and enjoy the acoustic guitar sounds and unbelievably crazy-type backing vocals that peppered this track. "More Aerobics" closes out the album with another dreamy pop tune that closes out the disc with a cool Casio beat under a bed of softly lulling guitars.
Make no mistake about it - The Red Shirt Brigade have a definite love affair with 80's synth-pop and The Moog Cookbook. Still, the Casio isn't the centerpiece of this record, because the excellent songwriting and tight overall sound of the band overshadows everything else on this release. I will say, however, that I'm happy the Brigade are children of the 80's, because this release really wouldn't be the same without the keyboards. Now, if there were any justice in the world, these fine young lads would be on the cover of Tiger Beat. As it stands, we'll just have to settle for listening to their fine pop craftsmanship for the time being. Pick this one up and daydream the afternoon away.
File Under:
Catchy little indie pop ditties, and a perfect example of why the Casio is one of the most important inventions of my lifetime
RIYL:
Personality with your pop music, or Elvis Costello if he'd have had a Casio fetish
contact: delusions of adequacy