War Tapes busted out a solid EP last year, showing their skills at a gloomy version of dreampop, and now they’ve released their full-length debut. The Continental Divide is a solid, very Los Angeles effort–it’s got the hip-and-coolness of Southern California, but lacks any Tex-Mex influence whatsoever. Think Joy Division/New Order. Very male, too smart to be emo, too mature to appeal to the young girlie set, and too upbeat to be Goth. Though all those constituents will likely find some things they enjoy about the album. The nice thing about the record is it doesn’t sit still. Although much of it has the afore-described deep and dreamy sound, there are other songs that show raw edges and unclean, frayed threads. This is what prevents the album from being dull, or from being overmuch like so many other bands today who use this same sound.
For fans of: Interpol, Alkaline Trio, The Cure, The Bravery, Longwave.
BONUS DREAMPOP COVERS!
It’s All I Can Do (The Cars cover)-The Bravery
Save it For Later (english beat)-Harvey Danger
