Signals Midwest occupies a very odd space in music.  It’s not really easy to pinpoint what kind of music they play.  Anyone asking is usually met with a genre descriptor and an, “I guess,” tacked on to the end of it.  The best comparison is to ‘90s emo coupled with the current punk that’s out there. Latitudes and Longitudes is their new album, and it is 10 songs of Midwest emo-punk (“I guess”) that’s sure to strike a chord with those who don’t really latch on to either of those.

The opener, “In Tensions” starts with a minute and a half of buildup to the final release of vocals, which sound like they’ve been caged up for a while, aching to come outside.  The whole record has this sort of buildup, like on. “Family Crest,” where there’s a waterfall of “whoa”s at the end that almost guilt you into singing along if you weren’t already.

The music recalls an edgier Promise Ring or maybe even something like a more emo version of Oklahoma’s Red City Radio.  The guitar tone on this record is pretty astounding.  It sounds perfect for everything around it.  “I Was Lost,” is the best example of this and the great bass playing on this album.  There’s a bass break/solo that drops in and doesn’t feel forced at all, which is usually an issue with bass solos.  They typically feel like something the bassist wants added in or else he says he’s quitting the band.

“The Quiet Persuader,” shows more of the musicianship off, where the guitars seem to intertwine and dance around one another.  It’s great to hear something like that.  The drums also shine on this track.  It’s the song they’ve shot a video for, however, it’s not completely representative of the rest of the album.  It’s the second-shortest song on it and it doesn’t sound a whole lot like the other tracks.  This is a pretty diverse album, and that makes it hard to really put a label on it.  Like the saying goes, “I may not know art, but I know what I like.”

Signals Midwest have a really cohesive album here.  It’s not often when there’s an album that grabs you and makes you listen to the whole thing.  And maybe it’s not the most enthralling record at first listen, but growers make for the best records.  this isn’t an album that’s going to blow you out of the water the first, or maybe even the fourth time, but if you’re willing to put in some work to notcie all of the subtle nuances, it’s worth it.  Perhaps it’s not for everyone, but it appeals to emo, punk, and indie sensibilities, so it’s still for a lot of people.  Latitudes And Longitudes is still a solid record that makes for a rewarding listen.

7.5/10

By: Jay Papandreas

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