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Album Review

Analog Digital Disorder (A.D.D.)

19 Minute Attention Span [EP] (2003)

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Apart from the visions of spastic children that the term A.D.D. usually brings to mind, this well-known acronym can now also be associated with some killer music. Illinois based rock/metal band Analog Digital Disorder (dubbed A.D.D. for convenience sake) has been causing quite a stir in their ‘windy city’ hometown of Chicago. Sharing absolutely no commonalties with attention deficit disorder, the band’s music is more like Ritalin (A.D.D.’s best-known cure). Although not necessarily calming, the group’s music will certainly captivate your interest and command your focus. With rough and heavy sounds combined with high-pitched solos, softer rhythm sections, and some incredibly talented female vocals, A.D.D.’s music is a powerful concoction of melodic elements. “19 Minute Attention Span”, the band’s aptly titled debut EP, is a great release which not only serves to demonstrate the band’s unique sound, but also to show off their tremendous potential.

The album, although short (it is not surprisingly nineteen minutes in length), still packs a nice compact punch. One of the most unique aspects of A.D.D.’s musical style is that in some spots it is modern and savagely hard, yet in others it backs off completely and offers more of a classic metal feel. Opening and closing with insane amp-blowing chords, the first track on the album, a radio-edited version of the group’s hit song “Maybe”, is awesomely heavy. Although the core of the song remains rather intense, it is however laden with continued guitar soloing and moreover serves to showcase lead vocalist Margaret Young’s excellent voice. The following song, “So Many Times”, starts off with a fairly clean single guitar and some of Margaret’s softer more melodious vocals. Without wasting any time however, the cymbals crash, the drums kick, and the song drops into another sweet smooth flow. This song is not nearly as hard as its predecessor, nevertheless remains almost as good.

The third track, “Sellout” is easily the heaviest song on the entire EP. It is a whopper of a tune and other than offering a great chance to run around your room freaking out; it will further convince you of A.D.D.’s multifaceted abilities. If that is not enough, you will also get and earful of Margaret milking her awesome ability to wail. The subsequent song is entitled “Reflect”, and is an interesting tune which further illustrates the true diversity of the group’s sound. With a very short and subtle synthesizer-induced electronic feel, the tune’s verse is simple and hypnotic. Overall this song is great and is just as easy to appreciate as the rest of the disc. This short EP closes with the unedited, album version of “Maybe.” As aforementioned, this track is one of A.D.D.’s biggest hits and needless to say the untouched original version is far better than the slightly hacked-up radio edit. This particular version is a minute and twenty seconds longer and is obviously how the band originally intended the song to be heard.

Sadly, oftentimes people are weary of hard music bands which feature female lead vocalists. It is not certain whether this is due to a specific musical trend or is simply blatant sexism, however, what is sure, is that in this case, the female vocals could not be any more fitting. A.D.D.’s music exhibits a unique, bold, and heavily kickin’ sound with which Margaret’s rough and scratchy sexy voice matches flawlessly. Although short, and in some ways a musical cock-tease, A.D.D.’s debut EP renders listeners attentive and eventually craving more music. The heavy music world needs a continued influx of unique new material and A.D.D. does just this. Hats off to a group who is not scared to try something new; and in doing so, not only succeeds, but also creates something totally awesome.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. Maybe (radio edit)
02. So Many Times
03. Sellout
04. Reflect
05. Maybe (album edit)

Run Time: 18:28

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