Built By Snow
Noise (Self-Released)
The days of audio casettes automatically propels one back to the days of floppy drives and Nintendos. The artwork for Built By Snow's
Noise EP is simple and not terribly original, but it catches the eye and in that regard succeeds in making this album interesting upon first glance. In a small sticker label on the top of the tape, you see the inscription, "rock music for smart kids, weird kids, rocket scientists, and NASA engineers." That's a bold statement that their simplistic music doesn't quite back up.
All of us surely remember the days when Weezer's fashion style and brand of simplistic pop rock were significant in the music scene. They attracted a crowd of young fans who wanted to be like Weezer and look like Weezer. It might be safe to guess that Built By Snow's members fell into this group of Weezer-worshipping musicians. If tape casettes still ruled the music world, this might be okay. But times have changed, Built To Snow, and now your music just doesn't have the punch it may have previously had.
With trite lyrics like, "Fuck radio and rock n’ roll," intelligence sure isn't pouring out of every seam. That being said, at times, like in the poorly-lyricized "Radio," Built By Snow is infectious, anthemic, and even reminiscent of an indie rock version of the Aquabats. Perhaps their statement that their music is for smart chaps is some kind of sarcastic joke, but their Weezer-like garb in their press photo makes that seem unlikely.
Art by Davey Staton (www.suburbanutopia.com)
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