REVIEW: The Promise Ring, Very Emergency! (Jade Tree)
- Andrew Duncan
"I've got my body and my mind on the same page, and now, happiness is all the rage."
As Davey VanBohlen sings out these lyrics, he and his bandmates (guitarist Jason Gnewikow, drummer Dan Didier and bassist Scott Schoenbeck) begin a new chapter to the adventures of indie-pop icons The Promise Ring.
With their third release, Very Emergency!, the band should be ecstatic at the success this album has had. After listening through the 10 extremely well-crafted songs on the CD, this comes as no surprise.
Very Emergency! is simply an amazing collection of pop songs anybody can relate to.
Since 1996 and their debut release 30 Degrees Everywhere, the band became a hit with VanBohlen's National Geographic lyrics about everyday life, and the band's catchy song structures. Things only got better with Nothing Feels Good, as experience and countless nights of playing live drew the band even closer.
And it shows on Very Emergency!
Songs like "Jersey Shore" and the John Hughes-era sounds of "Deep South," tell the tale of location and space. However, VonBohlen focuses more this time on the concept of people and things. "Skips A Beat (Over You)," looks at relationships ("My girls' car 'round the corner on Clarke. She's in the window as it's getting dark, Hope I'll be in there after dark."), while "All Of My Everything" turns towards introspection ("Dance record from before I was born on the stereo, Playing last rites for my late night; all of my evenings and all of my everydays.")
There are plenty of signature lines to choose from on this release, and the music is simply outstanding. Very Emergency! is very contagious.
