When I first heard about the emo band Pity Sex, I checked out the music solely because of the band’s intriguing name. This four-piece band based out of Ann Arbor, MI., goes the whole six inches and brings an entirely new sound to the table, using tons of distortion to set the right mood. After smoothly sliding into the Dark World release, I sat completely erect and eager for more as the EP ended prematurely. About a year later, I heard news that Pity Sex was to release a banging new album titled Feast of Love under Run For Cover Records on June 25. The vigorous, stimulated enthusiasm that I was feeling in anticipation of the album could not be quelled until I penetrated the depths of the album and received my satisfaction. All sexual innuendo aside, the debut Pity Sex album is perfect for any fan, both new and old.
The first track, “Wind Up,” begins with an energetic, catchy guitar riff. Instantly, the lines “Wind me up and let me go” will be caught in your head and will certainly stay there long after the album has ended. This track also features a pretty nifty guitar solo – a component I’m glad the band hasn’t abandoned that can also be found in a handful of other tracks. One aspect that contributes to Pity Sex’s unique sound is the distorted, muddy audio found throughout the album. While some may find this to be annoying, I personally enjoy it because not only does it help the band define its own sound, but it also fits extremely well with the slower style of music and lyrics. A huge improvement that I noticed on Feast of Love is the vocals. Both vocalists have really stepped up their game and developed a much more mature sound than what can be found from previous releases.
While the first track only presented the male vocalist, Brennan Greaves, the second track, “Keep,” makes use of the female vocalist, Britty Drake. The variety and equal use of both vocalists is a great way to keep the listener’s attention and prevent the vocals from getting too dull. Both of the vocalists also double as the guitarists, with which they do a fantastic job. Playing the guitar and singing (well) is no easy feat, but both of them make it seem as if there is nothing to it. Even though the drive on the guitars are cranked up, they still produce an excellent tone. The drumming on Feast of Love is done well, and the beat of the snare and crash of the cymbals create an atmosphere that make it all too simple to get lost in the music. The bass on this album even carries a heavy distortion and is clearly audible a decent portion of the time, adding yet another fantastic layer to the music.
The eighth track, “Drawstring,” could potentially be one of the best songs on the album if it was a bit longer. Drake’s vocals are absolutely haunting and mesmerizing in this track, backed by a beautiful guitar riff. I am always disappointed whenever it comes to a close only a minute and a half after it began. The closing track, “Fold,” is another excellent song. With outstanding vocal work from Drake again, “Fold” brings this album to close – which I wish would not happen – but everything good always comes to an end. The only criticism I have for Feast of Love is that it lacks the same “catchiness” that Dark World had. I can remember every chorus from Pity Sex’s previous EP, but I find myself struggling to remember most of the lines to this album.
Pity Sex has released yet another great album for Run For Cover Records this year. Despite only being halfway through the year, I believe that it’s appropriate to predict that Run For Cover will be the label that everyone will be looking at in 2014. Feast of Love is an album that will be played by myself and many others for a very long time. Each track by itself is incredible, and when you put the entire thing together, it is absolutely breathtaking.
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