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For this review on 'New Music Monday,’ I was left with a challenge of picking one of the three albums we gained in October. In September, it was a fairly easy choice. I opted to pick the album that I enjoyed listening to more than one that may have been more musically challenging. For me, the experience of listening isn’t always about the cerebral dissection of the arrangement. A lot of the time, I just want to be entertained without trying to write a thesis. This month, there are no odds on favorites to get my attention. Each is strong in the merit of music and entertainment. So how do I pick?

Here we go: All three were eagerly anticipated. One of them, I felt completely humbled as I listened. It was like a ghost was talking to me. My feelings for that band run pretty deep. Because of that, I think my normally oh-so-objective writing may be tainted. The remaining two, one is a pet project of one of my favorite performers and the second is a relatively unknown EP release from a female-fronted hardrock band. I am a sucker for all female bands and bands with female lead singers. Winner: female-fronted band. With the choice made, I can move forward on this hotly anticipated review I’m sure you are all on the edge of your seat to read.

The Letter Black is a Pennsylvania-based band signed on the local Tooth and Nail Records. Having an acquaintance who once worked at the label put me in earshot of some of the most poignant musicians I had ever heard. I occasionally peruse the T&N website to see the latest releases. Upon one enchanted visit, I read of band to which I had never heard, The Letter Black. It used to go by the name Breaking the Silence which is coincidentally the name of the EP. If you know anything about Tooth and Nail, the label very rarely signs a band out of alignment with the label’s “directives.” This is a band firmly in line with those. It’s hugely uplifting despite the heaviness of the music.


It has one of those important characteristics that a good record must have. I can relate to it. TLB talks about faith, poor decisions, moving on, and believing in something Divine. It doesn’t hurt that the lead singer is easy on the eyes. As I said, I like female-fronted bands. TLB is the husband and wife team of Sarah and Mark Anthony with Sarah doing the lead vocals and Mark doing the lead guitar work. Saying this album is heavy musically and has a female lead singer will immediately get comparisons to mainstream acts like Paramore, Flyleaf, and Evanescence. The difference here, in my opinion, is the sincerity of The Letter Black.

Find it here: http://www.lala.com/#album/576742229319526817/The_Letter_Black/Breaking_The_Silence

There are significant musical differences here, specifically in production direction, when compared to those three. TLB is rawer and doesn’t have the overdone multi-tracking on guitars and vocals to fill out the sound. It’s rougher and darker and less nu-metal than the others. I would call this emo-Christian metal if I needed to put it in a filing cabinet. Listening to just the music, TLB sounds a bit like Dogfight. But as you listen to the EP, you pick up on subtle influences from genres other than just metal. The appealing characteristic here is the urgency in Sarah’s voice. There is a level of sincerity, almost pleading, in her singing. I was a fan of Amy Lee but got tired of the operatic flight in her voice. Sarah’s singing, while shrill, is convincing and is bent more to a punk rock ear.

With only six tracks on the EP, you don’t get too much material to evaluate their musical chops. Interestingly, this is enough to get a feel of what’s important to the band and to know it’s hugely motivated by Faith. This, to me, is refreshing to hear, and has a huge place in my heart and musical catalogue. So this is less of a review and more of ‘this is why I like this band.’ So let’s pick two songs to give a cross section of the EP Breaking the Silence by The Letter Black. For the record, neither of these are the best on the EP nor are they my favorite. (It’s ‘Perfect’ I suggest a listen to this one LOUD)

Collapse – The most obvious trait here is the honesty of the lyrics. There’s no metaphorical code to decipher, no waxing poetic, just flat out telling it like it is. Like I mentioned above, there is an urgent and fragile sound to Sarah’s voice. I would say that this song is ‘on brand’ for TLB. The drum line is heavy and marching but not at a break-neck pace, just a steady punch to the soul. The power chords drip over the beat in a dark melting wax type of way. I get the vision of a dark room, dimly lit with candles, and the lead singer staring out of the window further in to the darkness of the night.

Best of Me – If there was a math theorem for the creation of a hit alt-rock radio song, it was used here in the writing of this song. Let’s see; use of strings + formulaic repeated chorus + anthemic lyrics + multilayered vocals + acoustic guitar. It’s pop-alt-rock borderline emo-country-something-or-other. Again, there’s a massive amount of sincerity in the lyrics and their delivery. But musically, it’s addictive like crack to listen to. It’s an ‘I-can-relate-to-this-song’ type of song.



I’ve never been outwardly religious. Let me rephrase that. I’m not a formal practitioner of brick-and-mortar-church-sanctioned-religio-indoctrinated followings. Mostly this was because I don’t like being told what to believe and not being allowed to interpret meaning. But I’ve been fortunate to have individuals in my life that have encouraged me to find and explore my spiritual beliefs in a way that was most beneficial to me. These same people introduced me to bands like Third Day and Jars of Clay. Yes, these are NOT punk bands but they are bands I recommend for their spiritual depth, musicality, and lyrical poignancy. The Letter Black is one of those bands.

Today marks a significant turning point in U.S. history. Years of scars begin to heal today as we look forward through the fog left by our past. Looking back, I hope we remember how grand this event was in our maturity as people, citizens, and a Nation.

As I sit here, I am caught thinking how I have never been so intent on following the leadership of our Nation. This campaign, I have found myself deeply rooted in emotion and pride. I know I cannot speak for every citizen, but I believe today is a major milestone in our rich history to which I am very proud to have been a part in deciding. Our 44th President has taken his oath of office. I am moved and hold tight to my beliefs that there is monumental change in our future. At times, life has been bleak and disappointing. Tomorrow there will not be immediate change. There will be no miracles overnight. Change will come in small incremental steps over the rest of our lives. But today marks the first step on a long journey of freedom where I feel extremely confident in the ability and desire of our Nation’s leadership to carry us honestly to a new day. Today is the day I will be able to look back and know, confidently, that I made one the best decisions in my capacity to help create a life and rebuild a country so that my two sons can discover, chase, and live out their dreams. I am grateful for this day of hope. All I have ever wanted as a parent was to know I was doing everything I could to create a better life for my family. To take them a step farther, to nurture them more, to give them the tools they need to believe. I feel like those who share these beliefs with me are now standing together in unison and thanking the Heavens for the privilege of Freedom. Hope itself is a miracle.

I have never been much of a fan of politics. I despise ‘The Man.’ Yet, with the need for hope, the need for something to grasp on to, I feel that I, as well as others, believe in the new direction and journey we are about to set forth on. Conservative or liberal, whether you believe in a Holy Spirit or magic crystals, whether you are confident in the future or are afraid of clowns, whether your play the slots or bet on the ponies, today is a day that no American can deny being epic in the fabric of our history. Collectively, we have grown and tomorrow will be a better day. Our Nation was founded on the anti-establishment beliefs that no one could control us, no one could tell us what to believe, we are all free to pursue our dreams no matter how childish, we are independent and we are strong, we are United, and we don’t want to drink your shitty tea. Today, we reunite with our youth as a nation and step back in to the treacherous path of prosperity and re-energize the imagination of millions. This fact has not fallen short on Son #1 either. He continually reminds us how the 44th President is ‘his guy.’ Today, he is telling everyone who our new President is. I am very proud of him. He is quite excited and even asked my wife why we did not go to the National Mall to participate in the Inauguration. In hind sight, I wish we could have been there.

Fortunately and unfortunately, he and Son #2 will never know a world of segregation and bigotry. It will only exist in history books. The new world will be his to sculpt his dreams and exercise his freedom, regardless of background, language, skin, hair color, or music preference. An unalienable right just as was decreed by our forefathers. The dreams of the Lincoln Memorial have reached the walls of the White House.

Quote:

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)." – Barack Obama, January 20, 2009