Mardeen : Read Less Minds

<img src="http://www.qromag.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/mardeenreadlessminds.jpg" alt=" " />Out of the cod-depleted waters of Atlantic Canada comes some familiar but encouraging indie-rock in Mardeen’s debut, <em>Read Less Minds</em>....
7.2 Aporia
2008 

  The Halifax, Nova Scotia four-piece is still young, and could use some work avoiding the dreaded emo demons.  But Read Less Minds is a solid start to their journey.

Opener “Kids” sets the table well, as it flows with just enough fuzz.  “Come Back” features a more prominent bass, but also Minds’ real Achilles Heel: a tendency, especially in the vocals, to get a little preening and emo.  “City Lights” is held aloft from that fate thanks to strong guitars and a pressing beat, but it is “You Feel It” that comes clear to being the record’s standout track, thanks to a mix of speed and effects that give it more oomph.

Unfortunately, right after that is where Minds begins to really suffer from over-emoting.  The following “Honour” is the first real ‘weak point’, as the vocals just go over the top.  Thankfully, “We’re Moving Eyes” and “Pretty Smart” play stronger, thanks to the catchy instrumentation of the former and carrying, interesting grandness of the latter.  “Telephones” is probably the record’s most divisive track in its emo-familiarity and cuteness that gets annoying, but certainly sticks in your head.  Not sticking in anyone’s head is the following “Things Are Hot”, which is certainly not, more boring than cloying, but not strong.  Yet “Keep On” ends Minds on a solid, epic note, thanks to its anthemistic nature.

Read Less Minds is, in a way, an apt title: look too deeply into the record and you start to find some shallow waters.  But if one just lets it spin and wash over, there’s some strong notes flowing through it all.

MP3 Stream: "You Feel It"

{audio}/mp3/files/Mardeen – You Feel It.mp3{/audio}


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