If you’re one of those internet junkies who finds reading overrated and is about to dismiss this review, know at least this: The December Drive’s Games belongs in your portable MP3 device and/or stereo.
After eight years together, with much of that time spent on the live circuit, The December Drive said goodbye to touring forever last year and left the music scene with their third full-
length album.
The delivery of the songs is polished to a glittering shine, showcasing balance and flow of experienced musicians and an undeniable chemistry among members.
Songs like “The Taste” and “Pretty Little Girls” layer staccato foreground sounds over smooth backing rhythms, keeping the choruses/verses moving forward to the end of the song.
The band discards the verse/chorus/breakdown formula
during “Blackout,” a slower jam that flows in a constant crescendo before fading gracefully.
Powerful vocals are showcased in “Girls in Motels,” which range from a pleading whisper to tortured screams within the space of its runtime.
Games is also full of lyrical gems, defying the all-to-often accepted clichés and bringing thoughtful content to the table. The songs cover the band’s frustration resulting from dealing with music industry sleaze, infidelity and suspicion.
The final product is an album that blends high energy rock with gritty, electronic elements and, overall, is sexier than all those magazines tucked underneath your mattress combined. Everything from breakdowns and solos to back up vocals and the masterful utilization of clapping contributes to the flow of the music. None of the songs are fillers, and you’ll find yourself listening through without skipping tracks.
So stop feeding the corporate music industry machine and support some seriously badass homegrown rockers by hitting up Games on iTunes or ordering a copy from The December Drive’s (myspace.com/thedecemberdrive). If you’re short on cash, just tell them that you’ll review it for a magazine and enjoy this orgy of sound for gratis.
