Mico - Standing Inside A Shadow

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 12 / 3 / 2002

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This record has been labelled as one of Canada’s biggest and finest releases. Mico are a five piece that can basically be described as ‘emo’. This is actually an album that lives up to any hype it might have generated in Canada, as the band show a real talent for writing sharp songs, that convey feelings and emotions with a bit of noise. The singer reminds me a little of Billy Corgan, of Smashing Pumpkins, but has a style of his own within the emo genre. The songs are varied, and they don’t fall into the disappointing emo trap of being too samey. It is not, however, flawless. The main problems come from the band’s obvious desire to rock out. They don’t really do it with any conviction, merely draining the guitars in feedback. This only happens on a couple of occasions, and doesn’t detract from the songs themselves, which are top draw. But it is frustrating when you hear a beautiful song like “Casual Handshake', with a gentle guitar line and wonderful melodies, and that demonstrated that Mico have the potential to be truly great, but then the next song is a lot less subtle, and just drenched in guitar noise. The band should stick to the basics a little more, and avoid trying to blow the listeners away. Like all the best emo bands, Mico are at their most appealing when they sit back and play some tunes. An out and out grunge/rock band they are not, but on three tracks they are caught trying to be. All in all, however, this is a record that will appeal to the emo, and US art rock fans among you. Not of the class to appeal to everybody, but a pretty much essential addition to the lives of anybody who cherishes their Sense Field and Sunny Day Real Estate albums, and wants something new.

Track Listing:-

1 Section One
2 Motion
3 Bad Idea
4 Hallyon Day
5 Casual Handshake
6 18.12.79
7 Everywhere
8 Found In Your Possession
9 A Timpani Of Failure and Defeat
10 Six Stages of Illusion
11 Horizon

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