By MEREDITH HUMPHREY, Special to Bootleg Essential Culture
Today We Escape describe their disc as “The Pixies and Pantera meet for tea at Weezer’s ‘Blue Album’ house.”
Screw love songs. Clemson’s Today We Escape has more important things on their mind.
“We do not have songs about girls breaking our hearts, or missing a girl, or hating our parents,” according to the band’s Web site. “We all love science.”
No matter what the songs are about, the band’s album “I’ve Made a Huge Mistake” is striking for a debut release. Today We Escape — which includes Wilson Ligon, vocals/guitar; Jared Edge, guitar; Matt McCulloch, bass; and Scott Hoffman, drums — has been together for about a year. The combo described their disc as “The Pixies and Pantera meet for tea at Weezer’s ‘Blue Album’ house.”
While the Pixies reference is a little questionable, the best track is also the first with “Last Great Hope.” Unlike a few songs on the album, all of the lyrics are distinguishable and the electric guitar solos are similar to those from bands like Taking Back Sunday.
“Carbon Black” also holds promise for radio airplay with vocal harmonies in the chorus that keep drawing the listener back. “Love and Lust’s Impaired Attraction” displays the band’s Weezer influences with a tempo that begins slow and inviting but continues to escalate until the song has gone from soft vocals to a hard rock anthem.
McCulloch, who will graduate from Clemson University in December with a degree in business management, has described his group’s sound as “honey thrash.”
“It’s kind of got this sweet tone but a harder edge,” McCulloch said. “I love playing (‘Inexplicable Change of Heart’) live. Most people really like ‘Carbon Black’ and it’s really cool to see people singing back your song.”
McCulloch believes that listeners can connect with the album because each member brings an eclectic mix of influences. Wilson listens to bands like the aforementioned Pixies, McCulloch grew up listening to heavy rock, while Jared is fond of ’90s alternative groups.
“We find that a lot of times there’s just such a lack of a music scene in the Upstate especially if you’re not a metal band,” said McCulloch. “We’ve just been trying to get some exposure.”
Speaking to McCulloch, it’s obvious he’s confident and proud of the album. The group’s Web site (www.todayweescape.com) seems to say it all:
“We have no delusions of grandeur, but we know we’re better than whatever modern rock is pretending to be right now, and that’s all that really matters.”
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/ Muckaluck1 submitted this comment on October 17, 2007 at 3:01 p.m.
