Empty Set - Colombian Briefcase EP.
JANUARY 18 2011
Album Review
Release Date: January 14, 2011
B (84/100)
With their debut Colombian Briefcase EP, Empty Set have laid a solid foundation for success in the local hard rock scene.
Music: 17/20
The album rips, from the very moment the record opens with "Midknight"—a rollicking beer-hall joint of rock guitar and organ—to the final throes of "Harbor," which deftly balances Collective Soul harmonies and Incubus patterns. In fact, the full pantheon of alt-rock influence is on display here: There are elements of the Black Crowes, Pearl Jam, Bush, Filter, Fuel, Hum, [*ahem*] Creed [*cough*]—Empty Set are clearly disciples of the era. Lyrics: 14/20
Colombian Briefcase is full of dead-on, straightforward hard rock lyrics that will play well with the 93X crowd—but there's enough going on here to sway a few "Musicheads" too. Rob Ellis and Jon Fischler split delivery-duty, and there's yelling and rough harmony and quasi-southern affect—the sort of genre-ingrained swagger that truly goes a long way, especially live. Production: 17/20
Produced by Jon Camp (who also plays keys for Empty Set) and engineered by Dan Berndt, the record is a tight 30 minutes, with songs ranging from quick and free-wheeling ("Lightning Bugs") to borderline-epic ("Overrun"). The pair have done well to make their work mostly unknown; the production may be most obvious (which to say not very) on "C-Billy," a five-minute swell of drums and guitar and electro keys that would make Umphrey's McGee proud. Technical Proficiency: 20/20
Colombian Briefcase is a technically proficient record. Overall: 16/20
Empty Set have debuted with a very strong straight-rock EP. They're primed for at least some level of local success, and while they may find it difficult to crack Minneapolis' more fickle indie-rock-, hip-hop- and folk-centric crowds, I'll be damned if there isn't always room for another rock 'n roll band; God bless you, and may God bless the United States America.
The album rips, from the very moment the record opens with "Midknight"—a rollicking beer-hall joint of rock guitar and organ—to the final throes of "Harbor," which deftly balances Collective Soul harmonies and Incubus patterns. In fact, the full pantheon of alt-rock influence is on display here: There are elements of the Black Crowes, Pearl Jam, Bush, Filter, Fuel, Hum, [*ahem*] Creed [*cough*]—Empty Set are clearly disciples of the era. Lyrics: 14/20
Colombian Briefcase is full of dead-on, straightforward hard rock lyrics that will play well with the 93X crowd—but there's enough going on here to sway a few "Musicheads" too. Rob Ellis and Jon Fischler split delivery-duty, and there's yelling and rough harmony and quasi-southern affect—the sort of genre-ingrained swagger that truly goes a long way, especially live. Production: 17/20
Produced by Jon Camp (who also plays keys for Empty Set) and engineered by Dan Berndt, the record is a tight 30 minutes, with songs ranging from quick and free-wheeling ("Lightning Bugs") to borderline-epic ("Overrun"). The pair have done well to make their work mostly unknown; the production may be most obvious (which to say not very) on "C-Billy," a five-minute swell of drums and guitar and electro keys that would make Umphrey's McGee proud. Technical Proficiency: 20/20
Colombian Briefcase is a technically proficient record. Overall: 16/20
Empty Set have debuted with a very strong straight-rock EP. They're primed for at least some level of local success, and while they may find it difficult to crack Minneapolis' more fickle indie-rock-, hip-hop- and folk-centric crowds, I'll be damned if there isn't always room for another rock 'n roll band; God bless you, and may God bless the United States America.
Empty Set released Colombian Briefcase on Friday at Cause in Lyn-Lake.
Their music is available through their Myspace page: myspace.com/mtset
Their music is available through their Myspace page: myspace.com/mtset