2008 Woodie Awards
Motion sickness that makes your knees buckle
Will's music is obNOXiously wimpy
Terri Ciccone
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Arts and Entertainment
Will Knox claims to be "as empty as the pockets of [his] skin tight jeans" on his newly released EP, Buckled Knees. If by empty he means devoid of all originality, excitement and freshness, then he is correct. Although praise is warranted for any band that involves multiple string instruments rather than the standard guitar bass and drum set, Knox incorporates them poorly on Buckled Knees.
To get the few good aspects of the EP out of the way, lead singer Knox has a soft and melodic voice, and his pronounced British accent is thankfully not lost when he sings. His cadence is soft and harmonious, but it can be strong and powerful at the same time. But although there are four different string instruments in the band-the banjo, cello, violin and guitar-their sounds don't blend together with the drums and vocals in a vivacious way.
Knox's MySpace page claims that the EP was inspired by Nick Drake, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. The site also references Sufjan Stevens and Ryan Adams as more modern influences for his music. However, rather than sounding original, it is as if Knox took parts from each musical styling and blended them together using Garage Band or some other amateurish I-can-make-music-on-my-computer-too program and produced something that will put you to sleep.
Buckled Knees uses its string instruments in an odd way. One would assume a banjo, violin and cello would sound beautiful when put together, but on Buckled Knees, it sounds as though the three instruments imitate a mandolin, which gives it a medieval vibe. Buckled Knees sounds as though it should be played at a Renaissance fair that's trying to hip it up for the youngsters.
Knox's clichéd and lackluster lyrics are simply not impressive. Compositions centered around loneliness, constellations and being a broken man have been done before and with more genuine sentiment. These emo lyrics were hip a few years ago but quickly went out of style, and it as if Knox missed the bandwagon and is trying to jump on a few years too late.
To get the few good aspects of the EP out of the way, lead singer Knox has a soft and melodic voice, and his pronounced British accent is thankfully not lost when he sings. His cadence is soft and harmonious, but it can be strong and powerful at the same time. But although there are four different string instruments in the band-the banjo, cello, violin and guitar-their sounds don't blend together with the drums and vocals in a vivacious way.
Knox's MySpace page claims that the EP was inspired by Nick Drake, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. The site also references Sufjan Stevens and Ryan Adams as more modern influences for his music. However, rather than sounding original, it is as if Knox took parts from each musical styling and blended them together using Garage Band or some other amateurish I-can-make-music-on-my-computer-too program and produced something that will put you to sleep.
Buckled Knees uses its string instruments in an odd way. One would assume a banjo, violin and cello would sound beautiful when put together, but on Buckled Knees, it sounds as though the three instruments imitate a mandolin, which gives it a medieval vibe. Buckled Knees sounds as though it should be played at a Renaissance fair that's trying to hip it up for the youngsters.
Knox's clichéd and lackluster lyrics are simply not impressive. Compositions centered around loneliness, constellations and being a broken man have been done before and with more genuine sentiment. These emo lyrics were hip a few years ago but quickly went out of style, and it as if Knox missed the bandwagon and is trying to jump on a few years too late.
Be the first to comment on this story