BORN WITHOUT BONES
Say Hello
[Animal Style Records]
Verdict: 8.5/10
Born Without Bones, a punk/indie rock band from MA, have recently released Say Hello on multiple formats, and it’s quite a surprise. Right from the start, this record gets you hooked and interested. “Say Hello” may have a simple group chorus fueling it, but it’s so damn catchy that it reels you in instantly. The first portion of the LP is pretty much upbeat and fun, with “Falling Asleep” and “Consider This” being some of the most entertaining tracks. However, come the time of “Sound of a Crowded Room”, Say Hello takes things down a lot of notches for the remainder of the album. This song in particular is a cute, quiet track (for the most part) with some backing female vocals to give it some more depth. From the last handful of tracks, things may get a bit boring to some. Personally, I was so stoked through this record until things started slowing down big time. Even when the band is still doing something interesting during these quiet moments, like with “You”, Say Hello tends to become too soothing and silent to keep you awake. Nonetheless, there’s going to be a portion of listeners who will be happy to hear the band breaking things up between the fast and slow. Born Without Bones have released a pretty damn good album with Say Hello, and it becomes increasingly better with every repeat listen. – By Nathaniel Lay
>> Recommended Tracks: “Say Hello”, “Falling Asleep”, “Consider This”, “You”, “Sunday”, “The Camera Turns”
>> The B-Sides: This download was a real cool addition, considering most bands will add maybe one bonus track. Not Born Without Bones, however. They added EIGHT. I wouldn’t say any of them really come out at you as exceptionally memorable, but they are all good nonetheless. There are one or two that sounded like they could have easily been used on the final track listing for Say Hello, but for whatever reason didn’t make the cut. More bands should do this, because it’s awesome getting so much for your money. With these eight bonus songs, you’re coming out with a total of twenty tracks.
>> Vinyl Specifics: The LP we were sent with review came with a download code for the digital album (with the b-sides). The vinyl itself was a nice orange with the middle made to look like an old timer telephone. The cardboard sleeve was printed nicely and was attractive. Inside, the insert was one side photograph (expanding upon the images used for the cover of the album) and one side credits (including Thanks, Members, Guests, Recording Notes, and a note from Scott Ayotte detailing how much time and effort went into making the album a reality). Overall, very nice production value. This is a good LP to own.
>> Bottom Line: Some people may not care for the amount of slower tracks during the second half of Say Hello, but there’s just too much to love about this record to not like it. A handful of songs are just damn catchy and memorable, while the download comes with a bonus eight songs! This is a gem worth collecting.