| Show 31 Knots Knots' Ep Polemics' Polemics too eclectic to l. l Joseph W. W Bateman Bateman Bateman Bate- Bate man Local Arts Writer Writing reviews is generally an easy task As a writer you can toss around phrases such as rock indie-rock hardcore or gangster rap or coin your own to pigeonhole pigeonhole pigeonhole pigeon pigeon- hole a band into a musical category Every now and again a band comes across your desk that makes your job rather difficult The San Francisco and Portland based three-piece three 31 Knots is that band 31 Knots released their seventh released entitled Ep Polemics on Nov 7 through Polyvinyl Records According to Random House Unabridged Dictionary polemics stands for the art or practice of disputation or controversy rock Controversy-rock would be an excellent to capture the band From one song to the next the five tracks on Ep Polemics take radical turns from each other The only cohesion is being on the same record Their multiple personal personalities ties I c Jr i t d 1 h s' s i t f J l h J 31 knot dont don't just exist between songs but also within the songs Starting off with the noise ambient Sounding Our Uncertainty I was weary about this record The short intro track flows into Wish Vish a post- post punk D.C. featuring angular guitars Immediately I was hooked Then the band takes a turn to an orchestra sound reminiscent of Polyphonic Spree and then blasts into an instrumental a la a Explosions in The Sky The band shifts between these and other personalities throughout The guiding light linking these personalities is the multi-dimensional multi vocals of Joe Haege Never before has the power of a vocalist held helda a band together as Haege does on Ep Polemics Alth Although disjointed Haege Photo Durost sees a bond linking the song together The common thread binding these songs to toone toone toone one another is the degree to which we pushed ourselves to try and find new sounds within our take on rock and roll writes Joe Haege in the bands band's biography Its no secret that we have a penchant for writing busy and heavily ly syncopated melodies so it was a challenge to begin r I approaching a song from a different perspective as well wel 1 as for other instruments When I was a kid I always dreamed of starting a band that encompassed my eclectic musical taste Realizing I was tone-deaf tone and a mediocre guitar player I gave up my rock star dream But 31 Knots is the band I dreamed about starting when my voice was cracking 31 Knots displays multiple personalities different perspective and the impressive vocals of Haege which makes for a fresh sound within the often stale waters of rock 31 Knots is isa isa isa a band that must be heard |
