Little Compass try to distance themselves on
Discover from the hordes of other power pop or punk bands out there, but the musical chops and ear for melody make them stuck in the middle of this group, especially on the promising few moments of "You Wanted Murder" before it veers back into a melancholic mood during the verses. Think of bands like
Jimmy Eat World or
the Exies during the chorus and they shine, but too often it's too downbeat. As the number progresses, so does its quality, making for a fine finish. "Risky Business" takes an electro-rock mode that veers into mainstream, radio-friendly "emo" rock. "I've only got one chance to say goodbye but this time I got to get it right," the lyric goes before heading into a lovely little bridge that recalls
the Cure.
Little Compass know how to bend your ear, especially on the strong "Demolition," which seems to scream "I'm a single!" as bassist Stephen Henderson sets the tune in motion. "Letters" doesn't improve on the previous song but just keeps the momentum and flow going in the right direction. The longer it goes the more it tends to get bogged down though. Such sullenness is a fine line for songs, especially on the dirge-ish "Our Town," which uses an orchestral backdrop to make it bigger than it should be. You almost choke on how lush it attempts to be, resembling "Disarmed" by
Smashing Pumpkins but not as effective. Thankfully they get back to their strengths on the powerful, high-energy "Nine Ways to Die," which recalls a neo-
Replacements with its tight arrangement and power pop smarts. A surprising effort is the almost alt-country approach on the stellar "Two Hundred Horses," which wraps itself around powerful riffs and great vocals. The album ends with another melodramatic ballad entitled "My Baby Lives in Rockdale," which has vocals over keyboards. It's decent but doesn't etch itself in your mind. ~ Jason MacNeil