Olympia

With their first full-length release, D.C.’s Olympia have offered a prime lesson in the art of mediocrity. If only Emergencies was a little more…urgent, the band would have been able to complete this fragmented formula for a successful emotional rock band. Unfortunately, the figures missing from this metaphorical equation are vital, and the record ultimately comes off feeling half-assed.

The group’s passion seeps through the melodies, and so by no means could a lack of effort be to blame for Emergencies’ inadequacies. The album’s gritty production would also work were the songs better developed. And so the only thing that can be held accountable for the record’s lackluster appeal is simply an absence of quality songwriting.

Emergencies isn’t progressive or experimental enough to keep the listener’s attention after initial intake, and the melodies or riffs simply aren’t obtrusive enough for memory. Instead, while the record plays the listener is greeted with, well, mediocrity. Give us hooks; give us noodling; hell, give us something annoying, anything but droning guitars and sub-par vocal phrasing. There just simply isn’t enough going on, good or bad, to make for an assertive listening experience, which is a shame.

There’s enough talent and competence here that Olympia’s next album could make a big impact. Who knows? Unfortunately though, Olympia has offered nothing with Emergencies that is close to being as attention-grabbing as its title might suggest.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. Chorus! Chorus! Chorus
02. Olympia Is A Motherfucker
03. The Ressurectionist
04. Bastogne
05. Emergencies
06. Even Rome Had Sewers
07. This Ship Isn’t Going To Sink Itself
08. Who’s Bad Party Time
09. It’s Okay To Eat The Dead (Times Are Tough)
10. M-80
11. Lo, My Name Is Abhorred

Run Time: 41:56