Trail of Dead review

Just when I was starting to think the big labels had lost all sense of
signing any bands with even the slightest bit of imagination, this CD arrived.
Interscope Records is now a huge musical beast with arms growing in all directions. A few months back I received the new Puddle of Mudd CD (one of Interscope's recent signings) and just laughed. If this was the best Fred Durst could conjour up, then be it.
The problem is I would never even consider playing that piece of crap.
Music seems to be at a crossroad right now. The Top 10 alternative/modern chart is almost exactly the same as the Top 10 rock chart. The music so over produced it comes across as that form fitting Tuxedo you rent for the special occasion. When you show up for the big event you begin to realize you are wearing the same fucking Tuxedo as everyone else there.

But somewhere out of the smoldering musical shit pile rises a spark of new light. The spark coming from the Interscope fire is Trail of Dead.
Formally known as And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, and hailing from Austin, Texas. This band has put out two past releases on Merge Records and Trance Syndicate and appear to be stepping up where At The Drive-In left off. Four song are on this EP and all four are both good and original. No cheesy lines like "I love the way you smack my ass".
The first song Relative Ways is a pop song afficianado's dream. Sounding like the singer from the 80's Australian band The Church the message becomes clear. This band will make a difference. But the pop stops there as the CD continues on to a song called Homage. A rockin' emo filled explosion meeting the same high standards adhered by the likes of At The Drive-In. Two more songs fill out this EP and both leave the mind swirling.
A much better experience than the numbing effect the bulk of the songs now filling the commercial FM radio dial offer.
The full length should be coming soon.
Go see this band live if they come to your town.

Interscope is on a roll with the recent signings of this band and also the the signing of Seattle's 77 style band The Briefs. Restoring my faith in the big labels. The future now appears to have a brighter light shining.
For me that is a good thing.

Grade: A
Deejay O.S.