One of the amazing things about music is that it is like a disease. It grows and with each new patient, it changes and adapts. Emocore or post-hardcore (whatever you wish to call it) is a relatively new evolution in music, and already there are bands emulating their elders. A Static Lullably is one of the new generation of emotional bands that bleed into and through their music.
It is easy to see that Long Island, New York's Glassjaw was very, very influential upon Chino, California's A Static Lullaby. On numerous occasions throughout … And Don't Forget To Breathe, A Static Lullably lead singer Joe Brown is a dead ringer for Glassjaw's Daryl Palumbo.
Brown shares the vocal duties with guitarist Dan Arnold and bassist Phil Pirrone. They regularly interchange clean and harsh vocals to amplify the emotional lyrics, which are stereotypically emo. On “Love To Hate, Hate To Me“, the band wails “Take this blade to my wrist, help me end what makes you ugly.” But, despite its heart-breaking sentiment, the music on … And Don't Forget To Breathe still manages to come off as an enjoyable listen.
Guitarists Arnold and Nathan Lindeman are solid throughout the album. They use various guitar effects and different types of riffs that mix up things nicely. “A Sip Of Wine Chased With Cyanide” even features a Guns 'N Roses-esque guitar solo. For the most part the two guitars chug together and break apart as the vocals go back and forth. It is a nice trick and one that is pulled off best on “Withered“, the track that will probably work best as a single off of the album.
The band's low end, provided by Pirrone and drummer Brett Dinovo are tight, and rise to the occasion when the dual guitars leave off.
A Static Lullaby fits firmly within their genre with bands like Finch, The Movielife and The Used. While not as catchy as the aforementioned groups, they pull it off just as well. They are much more accessible than From Autumn to Ashes, yet less 'pop-y' than Taking Back Sunday. … And Don't Forget To Breathe is a must for any fan of the genre.
