By A Thread

The Last of the Daydreams (Revelation)
by Tim Den

I hope The Last of the Daydreams isn’t “the last of the emo albums that has actual singing.” Yes, By A Thread actually tries in a genre that never does. With fuzzy guitars and thick rhythms, this band delivers the best of both post-hardcore and emo. Lots of dynamics at work: shifting guitar sounds, tempo break-ups, gorgeous chord structures, and most importantly, original vocal melodies make this record a blast to play loud. And do so without feeling ashamed, because it isn’t one of those pseudo-sensitive guy albums that whines forever and never gets to the meat of the songs. I mean, c’mon, if you’re going to play slow, melodic music while you under-analyze life’s most profound relationships, at least make it a little different melodically than the rest of your buddies. Thank goodness By A Thread has realized this, because The Last of the Daydreams will hopefully serve as a wake-up call to those still stuck in mundane creative existences. Great record.
(PO Box 5232 Huntington Beach, CA 92615)