ShamRain
Someplace Else
4.5
Last time I checked my office door, vanity license plate, private jet, and trophy wife's ass, are all emblazoned with the words Metal and Review. But, as I sit in the luxuriously accommodated solarium at MR Headquarters, I find myself listening to something decidedly non-metal. That's not uncommon, I'm sure I'll get over that after a few games of Polo with Chuck Billy. However, what is disturbing is that in addition to being affirmatively un-metallic, Shamrain's Someplace Else is also entirely un-good. And I don't think any amount of boccie ball with Horgh can help me get over that.
Imagine if a group of musicians who lacked the forethought and class of bands like Katatonia, Sentenced, or even Opeth decided to make a melancholic rock album. Thought about it? Yeah, it's like Damnation, without even the occasional guitar wizardry. Written around clearly sung vocals with that forced common to the post-grunge movement of the early 90s and clean electric guitars that would rather play arpeggiated guitar chords for an entire album than ever do anything interesting, Someplace Else is an album written by musicians so caught up in their own misery that they forgot that even depressing music is supposed to occasionally come alive. There are also some female vocals, which are well done, but are trapped in the confines of stagnant songs, so they don't contribute to anything but my frustration.
The topper is that everything sounds pretty much the same, which just doesn't fly on a rock album. Especially when the formula is just so bad to begin with.
While well produced and executed, Shamrain's Someplace Else is just a completely forgettable block of time. I really can't recommend this band to anybody, simply in deference to the hordes of bands that pull off this style so much better. Now, If you'll excuse me, Matt Mooring and I are going to go pheasant hunting with Ben Falgoust.
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ShamRainGoodbye To All That
10/30/2007