Swag

by Scott Hefflon

The perfect example of a pretty good rock band that puts the best song on the demo first. Once you get used to having their ride cymbal being the focal point of the song, “Instinct” is a pretty swell grungy ditty. Sparse production and minimal layering bring to the forefront a guitar/vocal combo that, while very early ’90s in vibe, is comfortable and welcome. The following three songs reach toward guitar pop, but end up floundering without a hook. Subtlety only works when the message itself is interesting.