Reviews

I can’t decide if these guys sounds like a band made of high schoolers or just a band I would have listened to in high school. Either way, this Orange County, New York four-piece Safe As Houses sounds like high school. I can’t quite pin down one band they sound a lot like, but there is some Domestica-era Cursive, a little more mature sounding Get Up Kids, some higher-recording-quality Juliana Theory, perhaps a light touch of Thursday. I loved those bands and the albums they released. Of course this was four years ago. This is what taints Safe As Houses’ debut EP. How It Feels To Be Erased, despite the super emo title, would have been a really strong release four years ago. But how commendable is it to play music a bunch of other bands created, played, and have already moved on from?
 
However, Safe As Houses does make a valiant effort. How It Feels To Be Erased is a cohesive assembly of some strong songs. The production value is overall very high, which I think aids the songs. It gives the EP a bigger, more emotionally driven sound that keeps it from slipping into the realms of whimpering emo. I can’t say the same for the lyrics though. The songs focus on emotional struggles in relationships and with finding personal identity. “The Singing Revolution” is about finding your voice in an apathetic world. “Always” deals with the difficulties of a waning relationship. While I would say these songs are pretty solidly indie rock, lines like “Cut out my eyes/I don’t need them to see” and “I’m tearing out my throat/ Until I throw up all my insides and my fears” hit on imagery that’s been used a few too many times.
 
The band hits a few high points musically, though. The guitar work is solid throughout, particularly in the first track, “In All Honesty,” where it takes on a kind of dramatic mincing sound. The Cursive nod in “I Don’t Believe in Beatles,” when vocalist Louis Pomposello breaks into impassioned yelling-style vocals similar to that of Tim Kasher, works well to break up the tempo.
 
The lowest point, however, is the final song, an acoustic version of “In All Honesty,” which features roomy, slow piano chords and low cello. Musically, it sounds overproduced, particularly for an acoustic song, and a little dragged out.
 
I certainly can’t say that I don’t like Safe As Houses. They sound like a bunch of bands I like. But despite How It Feels To Be Erased being good, it’s just not anything new. Perhaps in a fit of nostalgia, this EP might find its way into my CD player. But then why not listen to the originals?