THE STARTING LINE B WORTHWHILE | C MEDIOCRE D SAVE YOUR MONEY F WILL BE on HELL’S JUKEBOX a Direction Less Traveled

16 | Campus Circle [NOVEMBER 7 - NOVEMBER 13 ’07]

music music 101 | artist feature cd reviews MAKING THE GRADE: A EXCEPTIONAL THE STARTING LINE B WORTHWHILE | C MEDIOCRE D SAVE YOUR MONEY F WILL BE ON HELL’S JUKEBOX A Direction Less Traveled

BY BRIEN OVERLY we were kind of like a brand new band, and we could do whatever we want. We really chose our team “IF SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT carefully, and I think this is the most and Based on a True Story had a baby optimistic we’ve been since we first that was super good looking and really started the band, and it definitely talented, could slam dunk and run reflected on the record.”

really fast, it would be this record,”says Though many bands don’t have Justin Borucki Starting Line guitarist Matt Watts of the luxury of continued success after his band’s latest effort, Direction. parting ways with a major label on not While the album may or may not entirely amicable terms, much less actually be the musical equivalent of having a blank slate to start from, DEPECHE MODE Brad and Angelina’s kid, Watts is Watts hopes to make the most of their (l to r) Matt Watts, Tom Gryskiewicz, Mike Golla and Kenny Vasoli of the Starting Line Exciter and Ultra confident it will find a comfortable opportunity for both. (Rhino) home in the album collections of fans “We’re always trying to improve It’s a good thing Depeche both old and new. ourselves, improve musically and wide-eyed at the prospect of other feeling that they felt the first day they Mode didn’t release Exciter “I think it shows our musical challenge ourselves in the writing musicians liking his band, Watts picked it up. I think that’s a really hard and Ultra as a double album. growth but also retains those hooks process and not put out the same remains humbled by the level of thing to capture, but I think it’s That would have been a major that kids loved on the first record,” he record twice,” he says. “We’ve always support and dedication shown by possible.” mistake, given that the two says. looked up to bands like Saves the Day Starting Line fans. Looking at where these strike an all-too-blatant More importantly with this who have challenged themselves like “There have been a few people Philadelphia kids started out, from resemblance to one another to album, Watts, fellow guitarist Mike that, and I respect bands like that so who have come up and said a certain being “barely able to play their the point where either of the Golla, drummer Tom Gryskiewicz, much. Hopefully, people will value song saved their life, which is crazy but instruments in VFW halls,” it has albums could have been keyboardist Brian Schmutz and singer that.” that’s the biggest compliment you undoubtedly been a long path to the recorded and played on and bassist Kenny Vasoli, are just Recalling his band’s stay on this could ever give somebody. It’s crazy to chart-topping, respected rock act they repeat. stoked on their music and the making year’s Vans Warped Tour he says, “I think about the magnitude of that,”he are now. And though they’ve faced With the Rhino Records of it, something Watts admits wasn’t finally feel like we’re that band that says. their share of detours, setbacks and reissues of 1997’s Ultra and always the case not so long ago. other musicians kind of like. Ben from Citing influences ranging from wrong turns, if things continue as 2001’s Exciter, Depeche Mode “On the last record, the mood Throwdown was watching us from Nirvana to NOFX to Mineral to they’re going now, the members of the takes a stroll down memory wasn’t as positive as we are as people,” stage, and I remember last Warped Jimmy Eat World, Watts can Starting Line shouldn’t have any lane to revisit two albums that he says. “We were going through a Tour we did, Tim Armstrong was understand where they come from, difficulty finding their way. exemplify the signature semi- tough time with Geffen Records, it watching us from stage. Our musical however. goth, gloomy-pop sound that was an uphill battle to make the peers that we really look up to and “Those bands I get stoked on and Direction is currently available. The record, and I think we were just at a value their opinions are fans of it and still listen to, to this day,” he says. “I band will perform Nov. 9 at the Grove low point in our career. This time, the that’s really cool. It makes me feel like want our records to capture that. I and Nov. 14 at the Wiltern. For more album came out on Virgin, and after I can sit at the cool kids’ table now.” want kids to put on our record 10 information, visit we got let go from Geffen, we realized Much as he may joke about being years from now and have the same www.startinglinerock.com.

music dvd review psychedelia. Crosby would soon get kicked out of the band for getting a big THE BYRDS New Christy Minstrels, respectively. head, and the Byrds suffered many Under Review The film chronicles the trio’s lineup changes in a career that ended (Chrome Dreams) mutual desire to “answer back” to the in 1971 with the release of Farther There are about 30 titles in the Beatles, something they did in 1965 Along. the English trio has developed Under Review documentary series; with their first single and first hit, the This film is not sanctioned by the in their 27-year career. some of them dissect one particular Bob Dylan-penned “Mr. Tambourine Byrds, and the only alumni who Depeche Mode fails to album by an influential group while Man.” The band would often turn to appear in the interview sections are deliver anything truly note- others, like this two-DVD set, take a Dylan for songs throughout their John York and Gene Parsons (and worthy on either of these look at a band’s entire career. And a career, but Gene Clark would develop Crosby extremely briefly). Lots of releases. Keeping a solemn, good thorough look it is, too, starting into a strong songwriter (“I’ll Feel a performance clips are included along sluggish tempo and a desolate with how the three core members of Whole Lot Better”), as would Crosby. with insightful comments from the tone, both Ultra and Exciter the original Byrds – Jim “Roger” John Coltrane and Ravi Shankar likes of producer Van Dyke Parks and are quite the bore except for a McGuinn, David Crosby and Gene were two of Crosby’s main influences bluegrass musician Byron Berline. few select tracks. Clark – came together out of their folk and he incorporated their sounds into Grade: B Though the albums are backgrounds with the Chad Mitchell “Eight Miles High,” a tune often given —Kevin Wierzbicki nothing special, they do Trio, the Les Baxter Balladeers and the credit for being the first hit to soar into Under Review is currently available. illustrate the evolution of the band’s instrumentation and development of their sound that once was sugary pop – BUILT BY SNOW you probably won’t find them groups like Devo and the Cars, but or the respect of their fellow remember “Just Can’t Get Noise anywhere. the mimicry lacks the quirkiness or musicians they really need to get to Enough?” – and is now as dark Built By Snow is a band that’s That being said, it’s hard to charm that those two bands work. as frontman Dave Gahan’s not quite ready for its close-up. imagine Built By Snow garnering displayed. Grade: C black leather pants. The group is based in Austin, Texas much of an audience beyond a few There are brief moments of —Kevin Wierzbicki Grade: C – a city that runs deep with talent. drunken frat boys, at least based on creative cohesiveness. If these guys Noise is currently available.

—John Ochoa The college town is known for the material that appears on this are happy just to play keggers for a Ultra and Exciter are currently being liberal with unknown artists; EP. Noise contains seven songs that few years they’re doing a great job. « available. if you can’t find any ears here rehash ideas explored long ago by If they want careers in the business REVIEWS CONTINUED