Artist: Call The Station
Album: Signals
Genre: Emo / Alternative Rock
“I know what you’re capable of. Even when you don’t.”
Haven’t we all felt that way at some point in our lives? It’s a strange dichotomy, something we’ve all felt, but never quite been able to put our fingers on. Enter Call The Station. On November 12, 2013, the band released their first album, Signals. This may be a band you’ve been sleeping on, but there is no reason why you should be.
Based out of Long Island, NY, they have some tough acts to follow. Yeah, Brand New sells out shows in 7 seconds, but Long Island has had a wealth of good music from dive-bars to arenas for as long as time could tell. This band is no exception. You may have seen them grace the stage with Just Surrender, The Dangerous Summer, Hit The Lights, Sparks The Rescue, or countless more staples in the genre. The record was produced by Anthony Lopardo and Ray Marte at the Westfall Recording Company studios in New York. Special guests on the record include Fred Mascherino (Taking Back Sunday, Terrible Things) and AJ Perdomo (The Dangerous Summer).
When first diving into this record, I wasn’t sure what I was going to hear. I had only listened to a song or two from the band before, although I’d heard some hype about them. First, I’ll address the elephant in the room. It is very Taking Back Sunday-esque. The vocals of Anthony Wall have an uncanny resemblance to Adam Lazzara, unless that is in my head. But, slow down — is that ever a bad thing? Not for a Long Island native like me, and it shouldn’t be for you either. It doesn’t imitate by any means, but is certainly inspired by the aforementioned.
Simply speaking, these tracks are structurally sound and well-crafted. They remind me of the emo tunes that were pumped out ten years ago, only crisper and less angsty; it oozes emotion and maturity. Below you will see a video for “The Ocean,” a track that really does it for me. In “Secrets” the harmonious vocals complement the verses perfectly.
“I’ll let my secrets keep me safe, when I’m searching to be saved.” That’s a loaded line. The lyrical content of this record is atypical for modern bands in this genre, many of which have decent songs but lame messages. The emotion grasps you, but doesn’t overwhelm you or put you off. You won’t find any “Cut my wrists and black my eyes…” in this record.
Collectively, this is a solid album, especially for the band’s first full-length. Hearing this album only makes me excited to see what will come from the band in the future, some more touring and growth could lead to a serious sophomore record. I’ll score this 8/10 for a first album, simply because the band has room to grow. After only 2 years as a group, they’ve surpassed my expectations. You can pick it up on iTunes for only $7.99.
SCORE: 8/10
Review written by: Derek Scancarelli Follow @DerekUTG
To see Derek’s concert photography, check out D. SKANK PHOTOGRAPHY.
