CHRISTIANSEN
Forensics Brothers and Sisters! (Revelation)
Reviewed by Jason Thornberry

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No one seems comfortable having their bass guitar near the front of the mix anymore. I'm not referring to Flea, Les Claypool, Bill Laswell, or even Dan Lilker (Nuclear Assault). I really mean post-punk funk ala The Dismemberment Plan, or early Talking Heads. Mid-rangey, barren guitar riffs typically fill the void in "Indie Rock" most of the time, and the bassist only has that particular occupation because of their cool hair (The Makeup).

Christiansen are the exception. This six song EP is a breath of fresh air amongst a growing pile of four-chord corpses littering the racks at your favorite record shop, and I'm now quite curious to hear 2001's Emphasizing Function Over Design. The methodology of modern (cough) rock and roll would have them firmly rooted in either the punk or emo camps. Emo makes me edgy, itchy, and irritable, and I stifle a yawn when hearing this new generation's interpretation of what "punk" is anyway. A smart person once said that the best kinds of music weren't very easy to catalog and put into tidy little categories. While agreeing with that sentiment, how does one ever review anything but the most mindless drivel? It isn't easy, and I'm having to half ignore that directive, especially when listening to bands I think need to be heard, and need to be talked about. Christiansen are on that short list.

10/10

© 2002 - Jason Thornberry