COMMON RIDER “This Is Unity Music”
I’ve heard a bunch of grumblings from people who think it’s unfair that COMMON RIDER will never achieve it’s own level of respect based on vocalist Jesse Michael laurels. So? Trust me, I highly doubt he’s crying over the fact that he once sang for one of the most influential punk music acts ever. With that said, “This Is Unity Music” is COMMON RIDER’s second full-length, and first for the great Hopeless Records label. As a whole, this is an extremely comfortable release to ease into. Amazingly, Jesse’s vocals really haven’t changed all that much in the past 13 years. His crooning still retains that awkward harshness with the occasional sunspot of melody. The strongest asset of COMMON RIDER is their syncing of a tremendous backbeat with cool reggae touches and spunky guitar licks. “Small Pebble,” the disc’s obvious standout song is a perfectly executed example of a band understanding how to create their own atmosphere. “This is Unity Music” oozes with a strangely authentic sound, as if the band is validating what OPERATION IVY started, updated with modern production talents, and a more relaxed, yet no less enthused approach. The fouth track, “Cool This Madness Down” is one of the more aggressive treats on the disc, and I swear, there’s an OFFSPRING lick in that song’s chorus. As expected, the lyrics are top notch in that positive, ‘come-together’ vibe that never ceases to get old out of the sheer exhuberance displayed. Rarely does a single word have the ability to describe an entire release, but if I had no choice but syn up this band, and “This is Unity Music,” there’s nothing more appropriate than just saying “chill.”
Hopeless Records
