Oh, MAKE DO AND MEND, where to begin. I suppose it’s entirely meticulous that the only line repeated in two different tracks on End Measured Mile is “And it’s not right, now that all I know get caught between the gnashing teeth of the hype machine.” I don’t mean to throw these guys under the bus, but I can’t think of another band that has benefited half as much from the “hype machine” over the past year and a half than Make Do And Mend. Rarely has a bands debut full length been as greatly anticipated with such profound elation as these New Englanders Panic Records/Paper + Plastick debut. Don’t get me wrong, the band has certainly paid more than their fare share of dues pounding the pavement and playing shitty shows over the past two years, but still, the gnashing teeth of the hype machine certainly played a part in all of Make Do And Mends success.

Before I go on, I must make the following statement: End Measured Mile is good. It is really good. In fact, it’s borderline exceptionally great. Probably going-to-be-remembered-as-one-of-the-great-records-of-the-year good. The problem is, I just can’t seem to figure out why. The problem with Make Do and Mend is that it has always been utterly impossible to accurately describe the bands sound. When the band was first coming through Atlanta a couple years ago, I would describe them to my friends as a “a melodic pop-punk band that doesn’t realize they aren’t a hardcore band,” which, I always thought was pretty accurate. But for some reason, that would conjure up references to SET YOUR GOALS and that NEW FOUND GLORY record on Bridge Nine, and I think it would be totally unfair to lump Make Do And Mend in with those bands. So what do they sound like? More specifically, what does End Measured Mile Sound like? Well, you know the feeling you felt the first time you realized that things were changing? This doesn’t have to be any kind of specific instance, just the first time you realized that something isn’t the way you remember it, or something was no longer the way it was. Well, that’s what End Measured Mile sounds like. It sounds like getting old, but moving forward with all the youth, passion and aggression that youth brings. End Measured Mile sounds like getting older, but staying young forever.

Sonically, what Make Do and Mend do better than any other band out there is seamlessly bend and blur the lines between hardcore, pop punk, post punk, and every genera in between. Very few bands effectively combine delayed and effect ridden lead guitars with gutted and gritted vocals, but Make Do and Mend make it sound like those two sounds were born to be together. Everything about End Measured Mile blends perfectly into a elegant cacophony of sounds that is it’s own genera. The rhythm section booms from track to track as the vocals and lead guitars add the needed hints of harmony and melody usually absent in records of the same ilk It’s not punk, it’s not hardcore, it’s not anything. It’s honest, hard-working aggressive rock music. All of the lyrics come straight from the bands heart, and not one aspect of this record comes off at all disingenuous. To put it all in a sentance: this is a meticulously crafted record that is an extreme pleasure to listen to for any fan of aggressive, honest music.

So yeah, the gnashing teeth have certainly played a part in Make Do and Mend’s career. But having said that, there isn’t one thing in this world that these guys hadn’t broken their backs working for. Make Do and Mend might be the most honest, hard-working band in the scene right now, and End Measured Mile is a perfect depiction of that. It is everything you want out of independent music.

Panic / Paper + Plastick