Hailing from New Jersey, Let Me Run is the latest in a series of bands walking the line between the punk, rock and roll, and the blues. The cues that Let Me Run take are some that many other bands before them have also had - Springsteen, The Clash, and Hot Water Music - but this four-piece find a way to piece it all together in a sound that is still unique enough from others to call their own.
"The Count of Monte Fisto" starts the record with Travis Omilian's rough croon that is ultimately met with a barrage of mid-tempo riffing and upbeat rhythms - kind of sounds like Jawbreaker but with more gruff vocals. "We Bring the Booze" continues in the similar direction of melodic punk with a slight rock and roll influence.
While listening to Meet Me at the Bottom I find myself enjoying song after song, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what made it all that appealing. The songs are familiar sounding but they are by no means generic or knock-offs. Guitarists Corey Perez and Omilian do an admirable job in filling the songs with equal parts rock rhythm and melodic intricacies. The rhythm section of Louis Barbiere and Trevor Reddell are solid, providing enough oomph to give the songs some force, but never anything that would draw away from the song's overall vibe. Together they've compiled an impressive collection of songs.
Meet Me at the Bottom is a pretty impressive listen, something that becomes more apparent after repeated spins. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised to hear cuts like "Live Grenades," "Oh My Levees," or "I Don't Stomp, I Battle" on the radio. They're poppy but still rooted in punk, not unlike the works of Against Me!, Bouncing Souls, and The Gaslight Anthem. Heck, I even hear a bit of a Collective Soul type radio rock going on, namely in the vocals. I'm not sure if the band will appreciate that or not though.
Lyrically, Omilian follows in the direction of fellow New Jersey natives Springsteen and Fallon. He weaves intriguing tales through his songs of events that anyone can relate to. In the end, this makes the music all the more appealing.
My initial concerns of hearing nothing more than The Gaslight Anthem 2.0 were fortunately not met with Meet Me at the Bottom. While there are similarities between the two, Let Me Run proves to have their own sound and voice. Granted, there are still some kinks to be worked out, but this is a strong debut album and I look forward to hearing more from them.
