By Jordan Baker

This was supposed to be an interview with the Juliana Theory. In late May I had interviewed Brett, the Theory's lead vocalist at St. Andrew's Church in College Park, Maryland, and I had safely tucked away the tape of it, hoping to transcribe once I got back to New York for the summer. Well I got back to New York, and life has been busy, busy, busy. I had finally got around to transcribing the sucker when I realized that the interview had barely come out at all, due to my low recording volume and a band playing in the background. Oops. I felt pretty stinky about not being to put the interview up, and I didn't want to write to them and ask to do it over by email. I listened to it a few more times and was able to retrieve a few good quotes, so I hope this does them justice.

It was only a short while ago that I had heard the Juliana Theory for the first time and I was truly blown away after the first listen. Not many bands have intrigued me this much off the bat. I played the crap out of their debut album, "Understand this is a Dream," which came out on Tooth and Nail records, and when I heard that they were playing a date in Maryland in May, I was stoked. The Juliana Theory do not play the most original sounding music, as they fall into that emo rock category, but what does set them apart from many is their three guitar attack, and their vocalist's incredible range. These guys know a thing or two about melody - almost to the point of a boy group like NSYNC (which is pretty sickening no less). The band retains quite an edge to their songs, and live, the guitars pummel with an arena rock feel. With Brett encouraging the crowd to just have fun, and jump around, I felt really good at that show. It was one of those "I don't care about anything now except having a smile on my face," type of feelings.

Brett and I chatted beforehand in a lounge at the Church. I was surprised by his laidback mannerisms, and the comfort he showed. I know that interviews can sometimes seem awkward, but this was more of a cool discussion between friends rather than a stiff Q & A session. Most of the focus was on the upcoming album from the Theory, due out in the early Fall of 2000, which as Brett said, "isn't much different than our previous efforts. The sappier songs got sappier, and the heavier songs got heavier." The band recorded the future release in a 5 week stint in Birmingham, Alabama. Brett admitted that Alabama was not their first choice of spending five weeks of their time, but they went to record with a friend, and he was someone they really wanted to work with - so Alabama it was. Upon hearing an unmastered copy of the new disc, entitled, "Emotion is Dead," I found the Juliana Theory using more samples than before, incorporating a strong At-The-Drive-In semblence. Brett believed that the new music also contained a more layered feel with less tempo changes, and "quirky hooks." The Theory played Krazy Fest III in May, and although I spoke with Brett a week before playing the big event, it was easy to see how excited he was about playing it. Citing his enjoyment of festivals, he added, "it's a million times more fun to play them and attend them if they are put together well, and those Initial people know how to put on a good fest."

What do the Juliana Theory and the metalcore band ZAO have in common? Brett has been in both of them. It's hard to see the connection between the two, but the Theory's songs do not lack hardcore structures. There are breakdowns, and some guitar crunches, (and with three guitars, that's some crunch), and just a little bit of screaming thrown in for good measure. The Theory's style of rock is appealing because it covers a lot of musical ground and it never gets boring or monotnous, the biggest downfall in my opinion of most emo rock bands.

Some groups want to make it big, and on to the mainstream fold - and never mention it in fear of alienating their independent minded fan base, but Brett made no such agenda hidden, as he fashioned a opinion over the band THIRD EYE BLIND. "We could do that, we could be that band, our musical styles aren't far apart at all."  I couldn't help but agree. The radio friendly appeal of the Juliana Theory is almost frightening. Their songs are undeniably catchy, and with all five members wearing the same black and grey outfits on the night that I saw them, this band wants to be rock stars, and they want it bad - just without the cock rock attitude. If you are looking for an intense band who sings about girls incessantly, and you aren't afraid to let your sensible side take a hold of you, I dearly recommend the Juliana Theory to meet your fix. "Understand this is a Dream," is a fabulous album, and "Emotion is Dead," is on par, and perhaps better.

 
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