Punk scene veteran Jack Rabid, formerly of Even Worse and Springhouse, capably rides the drum kit for
Lessons in Redemption, the full-length debut from New York City's own
Last Burning Embers. But unlike the passionate punk and indie rock reviews, interviews and opinion pieces that take up Rabid's always-fat and fabulous mag The Big Takeover,
LBE's presentation comes up short. It's got little to do with the music, which is exceptionally conceived, be it the shoegazer-inspired "Distress Call" -- which recalls the thick power of
Ride and
Swervedriver, or the
Pixies-like "Nothing Left to Lose," which is equally muscular. The problem lies with vocalist Dave Burokas, whose vocals -- which are similar to
the Ocean Blue's
David Schelzel -- are just too thin to cut through the soundscapes his mates have passionately built. On occasion, as with the somber,
Chameleons U.K.-derived mood of "Someone I Used to Know," Burokas sounds like an okay fit, but
Lessons in Redemption isn't the keeper it could have been. ~ John D. Luerssen