"States is even more reticent than the self-titled debut-- measured and serene, almost lackadaisical in its unhurried progression, its esoteric screeds against the late-capitalist regime mete out their frissons like time-released capsules."
WHY AM I SHOUTING?
I AM MAD BUT MOSTLY I AM SHOUTING TO BE HEARD.
I WANT TO RAISE MY VOICE AND TYPING IN CAPS IS THE BEST WAY TO DO SO IN PRINT. (INSPIRED BY OWEN MEANY)
I WANTED THE NEW WILDNERNESS RECORD TO BE EVEN BETTER THAN THE BAND IS LIVE… AND BETTER…AT LEAST ONE STEP AHEAD OF THEIR DEBUT CD AND AS PFM SUGGESTS, IT IS NEITHER OF THESE THINGS. I WOULD NOT DARE TO CALL THIS A FAILED EFFORT BUT RATHER A SURPRISINGLY MUTED ONE.
I SHOULD KNOW BETTER. IT’S NOT FAIR TO CARRY PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS FROM A BAND I AM NOT IN BUT WHAT CAN I SAY? I AM HUMAN AND IF I WANTED A GLASS OF WHISKEY AND WAS INSTEAD HANDED A GLASS OF MILK, I WOULD MAKE THE SAME DISSAPOINTED FACE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GRIEVING LUNGFISH OF A BAND’S WHO TYPICALLY INSTILLS THE KIND OF FEAR AND FOCUS RESERVED FOR THOSE SHOUTING FROM A PULPIT? THIS RECORDING HINTS AT SOMETHING NOT OF THIS EARTH BUT ON THE OTHER HAND NOTHING GOD-LIKE EITHER AND IT PAINS ME TO HEAR THEIR MUSIC STROLL OUT OF MY SPEAKERS RATHER THAN CHARGE.
I HAVE DRIVEN OVER TWO HOURS (AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO) JUST FOR THE HONOR OF WATCHING THEIR GUITAR PLAYER IN PERSON RELEASE NOTES BATHED IN REVERB THAT SEEMINGLY MOURN MELODY RATHER THAN CREATE IT BUT THIS GHOSTLY SONIC EXPERIENCE DOES NOT TRANSLATE WELL TO RECORD. IT IS AS IF THE ENTIRE BAND IS HAUTING ITSELF ON VESSEL STATES AND I DON’T KNOW WHO TO BLAME, THE STUDIO ENGINEER OR THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND.
WILDERNESS IS THE LITTLE BAND FROM BALTIMORE THAT COULD BUT HAS YET TO. THEY ARE SO CLOSE, SO VERY CLOSE TO GREATNESS AND WHILE A 7.5 OF A STUDIO RECORDING DOESN’T HELP TO PROVE MY THESIS (I DO AGREE WITH THIS PFM RATING), SEE THEM PLAY LIVE AND TELL ME THEY AREN’T ALMOST A 10.
