Know What?: Reviews Of Recent Releases By Local Bands, Pt. 117

Knowso - Specialtronics / Green Vision - Drunken Sailor Records - 10 songs - LP, digital

Hot on the heels of last summer's two EPs (which are now also available on one handy 12" record courtesy of Drunken Sailor– recommended by this reviewer), Knowso, restored to their three-piece lineup of Nathan Ward, Jayson Gerycz, and Adam Zegarac, have come through with a full album. Musically, it follows through on the sound of the last few releases– staccato, kind of herky-jerky songs with Nathan delivering most of the lyrics in monotone, a definite Devo influence (I really hate to say that because I'm fully aware every worthless music writer compares any band at all from Ohio to Devo whether they sound in any way similar or not, but Knowso is the one band that actually really does. Take away my reviewer credentials if you must. Revoke my press pass! Oh wait, I don't have one of those). The main thing that stands out on here is that Nathan's lyrics, while never particularly cheery, seem particularly dark throughout most of this record. Right from the start with "Sea Of Tranquility," which is maybe the most depressed sounding I've ever heard the guy (up there with "King Of Things," but at least that one establishes some kind of 'me against the world' narrative). On the two title tracks, "Specialtronics" and "Green Vision," as well as on "Sad Dream," there's a tone of general disgust with the world. I love the lines in "Digital God" about "why do birds think it's morning when it's dark / why do birds / why do I"– simple, but very effective. This is not to say the band has in any way abandoned their unique sense of humor– the scathingly anti-religion "Prophecy" has a refrain of "I say lobotomize the guy!" and most of the lyrics of "Peaceful and Extinct" are lifted from "Over The Hills And Far Away" by Led Zeppelin (I knew they were very familiar, but I did have to look them up to remember what song it was– I'm sure middle school Buzz would be very disappointed with me for having to do so). It does end on kind of a high note, though, with "Open Up The Book" being the most lyrically optimistic of the bunch, to my ears anyway, even if musically it's one of the most threatening sounding ones here. My trouble is this– I genuinely like most of these songs one by one, but when they appear in a sequence (an album is generally a sequence of songs, as you might know), it does get a little samey. It doesn't exactly detract from the enjoyment, but I can hear a riff in my head and look at the lyric sheet (which I'm very happy was included– I would still like to get the lyrics for the "Look At The Chart" EP at some point) and not be able to match what song it is I'm thinking of. Still, you can't say they don't have their own distinct sound, and again, I still thought it was pretty darn good. 3.5/5

(drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com)

Are you a local-ish band? Do you have a record out? Email vaguelythreatening@gmail.com or send it directly to the Observer: PO Box 770203, Lakewood, OH 44107.

Read More on Arts
Volume 17, Issue 14, Posted 2:16 PM, 07.21.2021