Spring Break
Brainworms question 'Which is Worse' to prove the best
By: Dennis Mongello
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Originally published: 5/4/07 at 2:41 AM EST
Last update: 5/4/07 at 2:40 AM EST
Originally published: 5/4/07 at 2:41 AM EST
Last update: 5/4/07 at 2:40 AM EST
I was just doing my job the other day, searching the Internet for a new release to review, when I found a record I really wanted to write about, so I got in contact with the record label to see if we could do some business.
Coincidentally, Curtis over at Rorschach Records was just doing his job when he suggested that I also check out Brainworms' newest release Which Is Worse. In the end, it worked out well for both of us but most importantly, it worked out well for you, because now you get to read about a great new hardcore band hailing from Virginia.
Which Is Worse is not just a title, but also a question for the listener.
The album itself doesn't consist of an original recording, but rather, it pairs the band's first live demo with their first studio demo. Plus, if twelve inches of limited edition solid orange vinyl or clear vinyl with black splatter isn't your thing, or if you are just more of a CD person, you also get a video featuring footage of Brainworms in two live shows, including footage from The Fest. So, really it's up for you to decide. Out of all this different material, which is worse?
The first thing you'll probably notice about Brainworms is Greg Butler's unique singing style. This uniqueness ranges from his cadence to his sound. The cadence is like something from Henry Rollins era black flag or the half singing, half talking vocals of the song Institutionalized by Suicidal Tendencies, which you might know better as "The worst song in Guitar Hero II". That's unfair to S.T. because it's such a bad cover and the actual song is pretty good, just like Butler's singing. Aside from how he sings, there's also Butler's sound that makes him a little unique. It sounds like he's got some effect on his voice that make it sound like it would if you were hearing him at a live show. This suspicion is confirmed by the high quality live tracks included on the album.
Lyrically, Which Is Worse seems pretty standard fare for a punk album. What sets Butler's lyrics apart though is their introspectiveness. While his songs are about the scene, his home, having fun, and his struggles with religion, he adds a huge amount of a personal touch. Songs are just better when they mean something to the singer. This lets the singer put all of their emotion into the songs because they truly believe in it. So, what does this mean for Brainworms? These aren't just general issues that Butler brings up in his lyrics; these are pieces of himself that he injects into each and every song. I haven't felt a singer be this connected to his art since Guy Picciotto's work with Rite of Spring.
Coincidentally, Curtis over at Rorschach Records was just doing his job when he suggested that I also check out Brainworms' newest release Which Is Worse. In the end, it worked out well for both of us but most importantly, it worked out well for you, because now you get to read about a great new hardcore band hailing from Virginia.
Which Is Worse is not just a title, but also a question for the listener.
The album itself doesn't consist of an original recording, but rather, it pairs the band's first live demo with their first studio demo. Plus, if twelve inches of limited edition solid orange vinyl or clear vinyl with black splatter isn't your thing, or if you are just more of a CD person, you also get a video featuring footage of Brainworms in two live shows, including footage from The Fest. So, really it's up for you to decide. Out of all this different material, which is worse?
The first thing you'll probably notice about Brainworms is Greg Butler's unique singing style. This uniqueness ranges from his cadence to his sound. The cadence is like something from Henry Rollins era black flag or the half singing, half talking vocals of the song Institutionalized by Suicidal Tendencies, which you might know better as "The worst song in Guitar Hero II". That's unfair to S.T. because it's such a bad cover and the actual song is pretty good, just like Butler's singing. Aside from how he sings, there's also Butler's sound that makes him a little unique. It sounds like he's got some effect on his voice that make it sound like it would if you were hearing him at a live show. This suspicion is confirmed by the high quality live tracks included on the album.
Lyrically, Which Is Worse seems pretty standard fare for a punk album. What sets Butler's lyrics apart though is their introspectiveness. While his songs are about the scene, his home, having fun, and his struggles with religion, he adds a huge amount of a personal touch. Songs are just better when they mean something to the singer. This lets the singer put all of their emotion into the songs because they truly believe in it. So, what does this mean for Brainworms? These aren't just general issues that Butler brings up in his lyrics; these are pieces of himself that he injects into each and every song. I haven't felt a singer be this connected to his art since Guy Picciotto's work with Rite of Spring.
