Terrible Things - Terrible Things
It is perhaps the strongest compliment you can pay Terrible Things at this point, that their debut is most definitely solid.
Tracing the lineage of Terrible Things, you get a sense of the band’s pedigree, and in turn, get a better understanding of just what they sound like. Like an amalgamation of the members’ previous bands, it’s all a crosspollination of late-era Hot Rod Circuit with The Color Fred (and Where You Want To Be Taking Back Sunday). It is as expected from a band whose songwriting comes from Andy Jackson and Fred Mascherino. And for those who would enjoy the sound of Hot Rod Circuit through the The Color Fred, then Terrible Things is a record waiting for your approval.
It should however, not be dismissed as simply a by-product of the members’ musical history. Yes, the sounds of “Revolution” and “Lullaby” could have been culled from Reality’s Coming Through, and the rather pristine Midwestern vibes of “The Hills of Birmingham” could have been what Hot Rod Circuit wrote next, but there is a distinct aura of separation between the tracks here and the past. It’s a new record after all, and while its influences are shown clearly in its sleeve, there is much to like and differentiate on Terrible Things. Its scattered use of additional textures is certainly helpful- the occasional piano, the quiet strings and the subtle touches give the album a new found delicate layer.
Case in point with “Been Here Before”, sounding less post-hardcore and more straightforward rock, the song is a good indicator of the possibilities of Terrible Things expanding on pre-conceived sounds. They’ve upped the tempo in “Not Alone” with good results, and only in “Conspiracy”, where they sidetrack to kitschy piano swayed territory does it really misstep.
Percussion wise, there isn’t much outside out of the standard, but third member Josh Eppard, himself a multi-disciplined musician, gives the record a solid backbone. It is perhaps the strongest compliment you can pay Terrible Things at this point, that their debut is most definitely solid. Some great ideas, good production, and history make up for some serious promise. Like they sing in “Revolution”, quote apropos; “this is not a revolution / until we say it is.”
(Universal Motown)