Let’s be honest here - do any of us really know what the words “indie” or “emo” even mean any more? At this point in the ‘00s, we’ve shifted and modified the definitions of these words so that fans and critics alike have an easier time of pigeonholing and/or deriding bands that simply sound too much alike to really tell them apart from each other. We’ve become so numbed by the waves of post-punk/garage bands that have flooded our music libraries and airwaves that we just had to defend our musical sensibilities somehow. Yet, in the process of erecting these verbal barricades around our ears, it seems we’ve also been keeping out those bands that actually might be worth something, bands that fit within a specific genre, but also are able to extend themselves the confines of the hole we’d like to place them into.
So with the release of their second album, The Path of Least Resistance, The States employ their intense and well-crafted musicality to great ends, placing themselves up against and above the more meager offerings of their stylistic peers. Based out of New York City, this three-piece has crafted a record that prominently features the gorgeous vocal work of frontman Chris Snyder and the pulsating drumming of Joe Stroll, as well as an impressive penchant for writing great melody and harmony displayed by Snyder and bassist Previn Warren. It is in their capability as musicians and the effective employment of their capacity for music theory where The States set themselves apart from their peers, specifically on songs like “Charm Offensive,” “”Darkest Hour,” and “Black Jack.” Their wall of sound eschews the typical set-up where multiple guitars are all chugging the same chord pattern and instead includes a wide range of sonic options, from harmonizing guitar riffs to synth fills and more.
However, because of their obviously increased musical ability, I wish The States demonstrated a wider range of songcraft - the tempo varies very little track-to-track, and even with occasional slow-downs within a song, it all begins to sound the same after awhile. For a band that is so obviously talented in comparison to many of their peers, I kept hoping for something a bit different than song after song of soaring anthem and crescendo-laden choruses. Nevertheless, all of my personal preferences for stylistic variety aside, The Path of Least Resistance is certainly a bright spot in a music world that is speeding precipitously downhill in pursuit of all the fame and glory that marketing dollars can buy. Thus, if you’re a fan of smart musicianship that’s densely packed with melodies and non-stop driving rhythms, then you really need to check out The States.
--Adam P. Newton
