Rough Edge: Earshot CD Reviews

EARSHOT

"Letting Go" (Warner Bros.)

"Letting Go" marks the major label debut album for Los Angeles band Earshot. One of the most common references to Earshot is that "they sound just like Tool." Quite frankly, from the opening track ("Headstrong") to the closer ("My Time") I tend to agree.

Take for instance their first release, "Get Away." You have probably heard it; I know I have on the radio. But I had no idea that it was Earshot until I actually listened to "Letting Go." Previously, I just assumed that it was a Tool or A Perfect Circle track with its melodically rupturing rhythm and lead guitars fueled by escalating drumbeats. Even more frightening then the musical similarity however is vocalist Wil Martin’s haunting likeness to the tabooed rareness of Tool's Maynard Keenan's vocal stylings.

Still, the fact of the matter is that when I first listened to Earshot I thought it rocked despite giving credit to Keenan. So, regardless of the lack of individuality from Earshot, "Letting Go" proves a very listenable rock album with solid arrangements of melody and actual singing. You cannot deny Martin's talent for genuine songwriting, no doubt an attribute to his ten-year experience as a guitarist. And it is this talent for songwriting that enables one to appreciate and overlook any of those Tool snuffs.

Listening to "We Fall We Stand," you get the impression that these songs took a lot of work and then were reworked to get to where they are. It is refreshing to not feel like you are listening to a three-chord track that was written in between tapings of MTV Cribs and/or on an Ozzfest bus. And, unlike Tool, Earshot seems to know when to cut the songs at their natural stopping point rather then dragging them on thus keeping your ears interested before boredom might set with each track.

Once you let go and open your mind and your ears to Earshot you can really begin to appreciate the talent of this band. I would have to say that if you yearn for music where songwriting takes precedence to figuring out which band member should be the dreaded one, Earshot is the band for you.

Earshot is: Wil Martin (Vocals), Mike Callahan (Rhythm guitar), Scott Kohler (Lead guitar), and Dieter Hartmann (Drums).

Information on the band Earshot can be found at: http://www.myearshot.com.

"Letting Go" (Warner Bros.)

Reviewed by Snidermann

My job as a reviewer is to tell you why we like or dislike a certain band. Most of the time, this is an easy job. I mean, you just have to know what you like. Sometimes, however, it's a little more difficult to put into words why you like certain music. Whether because it's different than what you usually listen to or it's something you've never heard before or whatever ... sometimes it's almost impossible to explain why.

I have that problem with Earshot. Earshot is dark and haunting music with songwriting that is way above average. I connected with this music from the very first track - this CD was that easy to get into without ever falling too hard into the mainstream category.

For the life of me, I can’t really explain why I liked this band. I just did. Obviously, they're doing something right. My best advice is for you to visit their official website, listed below, and make your own decisions.

Earshot: Wil Martin - Vocals; Mike Callahan - Rhythm guitar; Scott Kohler - Lead guitar; Dieter Hartmann - Drums.

For more information, check out http://www.myearshot.com.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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