Best known as the drummer/vocalist for
Underoath,
Aaron Gillespie just can't stop the music from coming out of him, as he launched a one-man band,
the Almost, during the early 21st century. The Almost's debut full-length,
Southern Weather, followed in 2007, and proves that
Gillespie must be quite a creative deciding factor in his full-time band, as the material is -- for the most part -- quite
Underoath-esque. There are a few pleasant surprises however, such as a collaboration with
Jeremy Enigk of
the Fire Theft and
Sunny Day Real Estate fame (the latter band is often considered the original emo band -- a style that
Underoath specializes in), on the country-tinged ballad "Dirty and Left Out." But mostly, it's emo-rock that rules the day, especially such selections as the album-opening "Say This Sooner" and "I Mostly Copy Other People."
Underoath fans will surely be proud of
Gillespie and his one-man band. ~ Greg Prato