The spinning wheels of the split niche productivity have rotated once again, stopping wherever they please. On this occasion, Buffalo’s The Traditional and Syracuse’s Of Fortune & Fame have been put forward to the task of collectively encapsulating listeners.
The Traditional first offer their contributions to the split, unveiling their grandiose blend of punk and alternative rock. “The Perks Of Being Alive” is as blunt and bold as the title alone suggests. There is also a progressive rock ambiance that coats the skeleton of the track, which is enthralling. Vocalist Anthony Musior laments “I was alone in a room with a girl I used to love. She touches me, I kiss her neck and back the feeling comes...” with an accompanying harmony that mirrors the vocal aesthetic of Coheed And Cambria’s Claudio Sanchez. The classic rock twinge of the song is also present on the screeching guitar bends and licks, which embody the influential conventions of classic alternative rock, throughout.
“You And Your Friends Vs. Me And The Shitty’s (You’ve Got A Lot Of Nerve)” captures a deliberate off-kilter rhythm that will have its hands yanking the attention of listeners between the off-beats. On the first listen, the track may seem out of place against the sound of “The Perks Of Being Alive”, but The Traditional are somehow successful in not alienating listeners, and rather capitalize on the neurotic aesthetic of their sound in an intriguing way with the fuzz of guitar tones and other '90s alternative rock conventions.
Of Fortune & Fame are then up to offer their contributions to their side of the split. “You Blew It!” is triumphant and ensues the classic blast beat stomp, which encourages the accelerating pace of the heart. “You Blew It!” captures the melodic grassroot pop-punk sensibility of The Swellers, while also shedding shades of Stand Tall-era Such Gold. The calculated charm of the chorus cannot go unnoticed, offering solemn yet triumphant (in melody) words of “So it all comes down to these breaking ties again, but I’ve grown tired of giving in...”, which will undoubtedly burrow itself into the heart of every listener, also subject to the proverbial rut that vocalist Nick Burger details.
The final track on the split, “No, You Didn’t”, is a shift in tone. Although the first half unfortunately slumps in the corner of predictability, the second half of the track musically carves a glimpse into the potential for future releases, into the wall they initially encounter. During the second half it is alternative rock galore, where behind a wall of sound chromatic solos are free to reign. Closing off, Of Fortune & Fame leave listeners with a key change on a high.
Both The Traditional and Of Fortune & Fame offer notably different contributions on the split. Their comradeship, however, lies in the fact that both have primarily punk roots and share the initiative to diverge from this sound in their own ways to show their particular merits.
Tracklist:
The Traditional
1. The Perks Of Being Alive
2. You And Your Friends Vs. Me And The Shittys (You Got A Lot Of Nerve)
Of Fortune & Fame
3. You Blew It!
4. No You Didn't
RIYL: You Me And Everyone We Know, The Dirty Looks, early Such Gold, The Swellers
Rating:
More reviews by Aaron Akeredolu
Of Fortune & Fame
The Traditional
