Rejectioneers – 25

Rejectioneers have been described as having a sound similar to the likes of Jimmy Eat World and The Weakerthans, though I personally would characterize the band as a whole as being more along the lines of something Matt Pryor would have created during the days of Secret Decoder Ring. And that’s not a knock at Ben Walker and company, I just think that it’s ridiculous and ultimately unfair to compare a couple of music’s heavyweights to a band that is virtually unknown outside of its hometown of Columbia, South Carolina. That being said, Rejectioneers debut release, 25, a five-song EP that comes in at just under 20 minutes, features a lively arrangement of guitar melodies and a percussive ambience that, for all intents and purposes, attempts to create a sense of nostalgia for those of us who grew up on the sentimental indie rock scene of the 90s, or what Barry at Championship Vinyl would refer to as a catalogue of “old sad bastard music.”

With lyrics like, “Here we are all alone. How can I mess it up? This time I’m the fool. Sorry I’m not good to you,” 25 has a running theme of heartbreak, letdown, and, unfortunately, little else but sad bastardness. I mean, it’s not that I don’t enjoy a good cry from time to time, but an entire album chock full of songs about pain and suffering is a bit much to say the least. Heck, even John K. Sampson, the preeminent songwriter of our generation, known for his ability to craft music that elicits profound sadness, still gives us songs about cats and funny sports. After all, human emotion is not, nor has it ever been, limited to melancholy.

For that reason, along with the fact that I find Walker’s vocals to be about as annoying as nails on a chalkboard, 25 is extremely difficult to stomach. This is especially true when played more than a few times. I will say that the music on 25 is quite impressive and even comparable to the sound that has rocketed bands like The Appleseed Cast and Explosions In the Sky into the national spotlight. Yeah, it’s that good.

My advice: Become an instrumental band or let someone else take a crack at singing.