Review
Framing Hanley- "The Moment"
- Author:
- Review Date:
- 4/1/09
Just one look at “The Moment” album cover, Framing Hanley’s debut, and you know exactly what you’ll get. The cover’s dismal aesthetic matches the band’s songs almost identically (save for the hit single “Lollipop”, but we’ll get to that). I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this happens to be one exception among many. I would never expect an emo/post-hardcore band to come out of Nashville, Tenessee, but Framing Hanley is the stereotype of the genre. Though I give them major kudos for naming the band after a deceased loved one (Ashley Helen Hanley, the drummer’s late fiancé) and doling out very heartfelt songs, I can’t say that I am a huge fan of “The Moment” for several reasons.
In all honesty, I’ve never been a fan of emo music (the closest I’ve come is Linkin Park back when Hybrid Theory came out) so when I turned on “Home”, the first song on the record, I knew I was in for a bumpy ride. Technically, the band does what is appropriate to the emo genre: the guitars sound grungy and there are enough E minors and chord drag to make the happiest of people self-deprecate. Kenneth Nixon, the lead vocalist, wails his woes about long lost loves and screams angry accusations with a tangible emotional intensity that I find absent in many emo bands. Most of the lyrics are pedantic and dark like in the song “Built For Sin” (you can scream out loud/but your panic falls on deaf ears/this is where you've brought yourself/and this is what you've always feared) though some lyrics in a couple of the songs offer a deeper insight, like the song “23 Days” (the silver spoon won't feed your friends/cause life tastes better when you eat with your hands).
My biggest problem with Framing Hanley is their predictability. I usually enjoy bands that serve up something I’ve never heard before or give me a variation of something I’ve already heard. But Framing Hanley is an emo band and emo music is exactly what you’ll get. Not only that, but I find that most of the songs sound the same, save for the cover of Li’l Wayne’s song “Lollipop”. It was the only song that wasn’t about dismal, depressing or angsty subjects. I’m not someone who opposes dark music whatsoever (Disturbed and SlipKnot are a couple of my favorite bands for pete’s sake), but Framing Hanley’s music wasn’t memorable for me.
That doesn’t mean other people won’t like it. My last word is this: if you are a sophisticated music listener, chances are you won’t enjoy Framing Hanley’s music. Fans of emo, post-hardcore, or even nu-metal will definitely enjoy this album. Or you can look at the cover and decide then and there if this is for you.
Framing Hanley is: Kenneth Nixon-lead vocals Luke McDuffee-bass Ryan Belcher-guitar (from 2008-present) Brandon Wooten-guitar Chris Vest-drums Tim Huskin-guitar (2005-2008)
For Upcoming Tour dates, visit www.myspace.com/framinghanley
In all honesty, I’ve never been a fan of emo music (the closest I’ve come is Linkin Park back when Hybrid Theory came out) so when I turned on “Home”, the first song on the record, I knew I was in for a bumpy ride. Technically, the band does what is appropriate to the emo genre: the guitars sound grungy and there are enough E minors and chord drag to make the happiest of people self-deprecate. Kenneth Nixon, the lead vocalist, wails his woes about long lost loves and screams angry accusations with a tangible emotional intensity that I find absent in many emo bands. Most of the lyrics are pedantic and dark like in the song “Built For Sin” (you can scream out loud/but your panic falls on deaf ears/this is where you've brought yourself/and this is what you've always feared) though some lyrics in a couple of the songs offer a deeper insight, like the song “23 Days” (the silver spoon won't feed your friends/cause life tastes better when you eat with your hands).
My biggest problem with Framing Hanley is their predictability. I usually enjoy bands that serve up something I’ve never heard before or give me a variation of something I’ve already heard. But Framing Hanley is an emo band and emo music is exactly what you’ll get. Not only that, but I find that most of the songs sound the same, save for the cover of Li’l Wayne’s song “Lollipop”. It was the only song that wasn’t about dismal, depressing or angsty subjects. I’m not someone who opposes dark music whatsoever (Disturbed and SlipKnot are a couple of my favorite bands for pete’s sake), but Framing Hanley’s music wasn’t memorable for me.
That doesn’t mean other people won’t like it. My last word is this: if you are a sophisticated music listener, chances are you won’t enjoy Framing Hanley’s music. Fans of emo, post-hardcore, or even nu-metal will definitely enjoy this album. Or you can look at the cover and decide then and there if this is for you.
Framing Hanley is: Kenneth Nixon-lead vocals Luke McDuffee-bass Ryan Belcher-guitar (from 2008-present) Brandon Wooten-guitar Chris Vest-drums Tim Huskin-guitar (2005-2008)
For Upcoming Tour dates, visit www.myspace.com/framinghanley