Echocast is a pretty easy band to pin down, especially upon its debut in 2002. The brooding post-grunge of A Perfect Circle and the shimmering production style of the Smashing Pumpkins are both utilized strongly, displaying a sound very rooted in the times. But what matters is the songwriting, and on Where the Future Ends the hooks haven't quite caught up to the band's ambition. The effort is definitely there, especially from guitarist Adam Redding and singer David Mast. Redding's playing offers a timeless chiming matched to a '90s riffing style as the tight rhythm section shapes it into digestible nuggets. But Mast's efforts provide the album's most admirable moments, as he milks his somewhat limited vocal range for just about everything it's worth. This sort of energy makes it hard to completely dislike this album, but the songs are simply not that memorable. A few, especially the melancholy "Wasted Me," are good enough to overcome these problems because the structure is pretty solid. But for the most part, Echocast revisits ideas that countless bands have tried since the early '90s, and the results are less than inspiring in the face of all that's been done in that time. With a little more effort in the songwriting department, Echocast could have really delivered a monster here. As it stands, this is an average effort from a well-intentioned band that has plenty of room and time to improve.
© Bradley Torreano /TiVo