Review: Injury Tape - Songs I mailed to myself
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| Label: ungulates |
I'm probably getting all too phrasy right away, but it's just true with this record here: If "Songs I mailed to myself" would've been released in the 90s, it would now be called a classic, mentioned next to "Diary", "The Power Failing", "EndSerenading" or "Do you know who you are?". Yeah, the band's debut album is that good!
INJURY TAPE hail from Japan and released their 10-track-album back in March on ungulates. Check this awesome label out of Tokyo, as they seem to collect everything that's good about the country's Emo-scene. Judging from the listed records, you already know what you're in for. INJURY TAPE play Midwest-Emo like it was done in the Mid- to late 90s. In terms of sound and feeling they're very close to MINERAL, CHRISTIE FRONT DRIVE and PENFOLD, with some similarities to AMERICAN FOOTBALL, TEXAS IS THE REASON, SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE or EMPIRE! EMPIRE!, just to mention a band that not originated in the 90s. The singing voice also calls BRAID's Bob Nanna to mind, from time to time. As this scene nowaydays is pretty small and highly despersed around the globe, fans always appreciate bands with a sound like this. Still, it's not the nostalgia alone that's so fascinating about this record. Sure, INJURY TAPE took their lesson and probably had all those classics on heavy rotation at some point in their lives, yet, it's not like they're ripping off for the sake of sounding like those legends.
They have their own approach, and that's what I really dig about them. Compared to bands like MINERAL or CHRISTIE FRONT DRIVE, INJURY TAPE are more streamlined. If we're honest, the mentioned bands created an awesome mood on their records, but they had their struggles when it came to catchy, memorable songwriting. MINERAL managed to do it better on their second album (I'm well prepared for the hate of the "Power of Failing"-supporters), but a band like CHRISTIE FRONT DRIVE never was about those classic songs. I probably need to relativize myself a bit, cause it's not like any of the "Songs I mailed to myself" is a caliber like "&seranading" (the track), but then again, which Emo-song is?! INJURY TAPE design this heart-warming, melancholic, sincere atmosphere that "we" all so adore, but at the same time they keep themselves short, get straight to the point and write well structured songs with nice chorusses and hooks. On the other hand, it's not like there are two or three perfect songs on the record, that bury all the other songs because they are so catchy. The album is well balanced throughout, fucking coherent, and doesn't overstay its welcome with 30 slim minutes. There's still some room for them to grow, no doubt. The one thing that I praised is also the thing that probably hinders them a bit in their songwriting, as they definitely have all the tools to create those big big moments that'll haunt you forever and a day. But they have enough time and for a debut record "Songs I mailed to myself" is a more than promising start.
So, what's left to say, but this is a sure shot for everyone who got sparkling eyes when reading the excessive namedropping above. Get you your hankies and give INJURY TAPE a chance to become your new favourite band. You won't regret it, just like you don't regret it when you spin "Diary", "LP1" or... "The Power of Failing" (?) for the 293th time in your lifetime!
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