MUSIC REVIEWS
Criteria - When We Break
Matt Jameson
Wow, here’s the new flavor of the month for your rock lovers. Imagine the old school Weezer sound, blend it with Jimmy Eat World and you’ve got just the beginning of Criteria. Trouble is neither Weezer nor Jimmy Eat World can write as well. Criteria’s lyrics are amazingly well thought-out, and the delivery is flawless.
After struggling for years in other acts such as White Octave and Cursive, Stephen Pederson has found success with Criteria. This release from Saddle Creek is one of the few standout releases of 2005. This band has accomplished producing an album that actually sounds original, but still fits in the rock genre. Amazingly enough, it failed to garner much media attention. After all, in a year dominated by powerful hip hop releases a good rock act simply falls to the back burner. That’s where Saddle Creek comes in. This label boasts some of the most original acts I have heard in years. Strong up comers with talent and moxy.
Criteria manages to compose wonderfully detailed and many layered harmonies, and it certainly helps that Pederson’s vocals lend themselves perfectly to this style. Using unusual time signatures, juicy rhythmic stops and starts, and plucky riffs - Criteria hits you in waves. The lingering vocals run through my head during my boring day job, carrying me through to my afternoon commute. It’s not particularly inspirational, but somehow manages to be quite uplifting. I’m still trying to figure out how they do that.
Criteria does for rock what Dashboard Confessional did for emo, it puts it back on the map with an original twist. All you rock fans rejoice Criteria is the antidote that just might save the rock genre from its stale and dusty fate. Check em out if you need a great new album for your collection.
