Anarbor – The Natural Way EP

  • Bobby Gorman posted
  • Reviews

Anarbor

The Natural Way EP - Hopeless Records

Phoenix Arizona’s Anarbor is like that generic brand of cola they sell at K-Mart: it seems harmless enough in passing, but when compared with the real deal, it feels flat, tasteless, and cheap.  That pretty much sums up my experience with their brief EP, The Natural Way: four tracks of uneventful and deceivingly bland alternative pop-rock.

Now, I didn’t find Anarbor inherently cringe-inducing on first listen – no, they were rather competent – maybe even modestly exciting based on vocalist Slade Echeverria’s likeness to the vocal alertness of Nick Thomas (The Spill Canvas).  At least for me, that was a definite plus (especially on “Right There With You”).  However, the longer I spun the four tracks, and the greater attention I gave the release, the more it dawned upon me how empty and soulless the thirteen minutes felt.  It’s the type of directionless drivel that you can find yourself singing along with, yet hate every second of its mindless hooks and sugar coated, head-in-the-clouds pop.

But, if the band was aiming for a sound ripe for the young alternative radio waves, then I suppose they’re on the right track.  “Don’t trouble your pretty little head, there’s only room for love, there’s only room for love instead” whines Echeverria towards the end of opener “Love Instead.”  It’s just so easy to see impressionable scenesters suckered into singing along with these big choruses as they scour the racks of Hot Topic for whatever fluorescent colours and wristbands the trend setters are wearing to local power-pop shows on any given month.  It’s easy to see how these tricks have given Anarbor the sizeable following required for maintaining their relatively prolific output, but at the same time, these tricks make for a vicious circle of uninspired quality, letting successful bands like Anarbor set a rather depressing standard for others to follow.

The Natural Way isn’t the bottom of the barrel, but it’s hardly worth going into much detail over since this barrel is all but empty.  These are songs about everything and nothing all at once, inspiring listeners to enter a vegetative state of bland compliance.  They’re good for a harmless hum, but hardly offer anything beyond a brief survey of today’s passable flavour of the week.