Right now there are too many bands running around using descriptors like "post-hardcore" or "post-rock" that when you get around to hearing the band you are treated to yet another run of the mill rock band like Vanna, Aiden, From First to Last or any other ripe for Warped Tour fodder. I was hearing rumblings of this band called Olympia who are true to the moniker of hardcore or rock in its purest post form. I prepared myself for another review of cheap shots about girl pants and push pits.
Sadly, I couldn't be my usual cynical jaded self when it came to Emergencies because it happens to be a good album. Now, don't go running to your computers sending me hate emails about how I've sold out asking how can I like a band like Olympia. I said Emergencies was a good album not a great album. It's probably not even going to show in my Top 25 at the end of the year unless 2007 pans to be a really crappy year for music. It's just a good little album. Settle.
Olympia play mid-tempo rock music that not only is catchy at times but also well crafted reminding me of great 90's "post" acts like Sense Field, Jawbox, and even Handsome. There's times on Emergencies where I need to recheck the liner notes to see if it was produced by J. Robbins. It should come to no surprise that the fellows in Olympia play homage to some of the better post-hardcore bands as the members spent time in Fairweather and Brand New Disaster. Both bands tried their best in the early part of this decade to bring back the rock to a lackluster post-hardcore scene that was beginning to turn into the hair-farming mess we have today.
Emergencies is eleven tracks of good rock music no matter what label you need to pin on it. The songs are catchy but not overbearing. Olympia doesn't rely on any melodramatic screaming to propel the songs. There is no metallic moshiness to clog it up. There isn't even atmospheric fret board gymnastics that send Emergencies into the realm of snobby indie rock noodling. Olympia is just four guys in a post-hardcore band that remember that it actually helps to rock instead of just trying to impress fifteen-year-old girls with bad haircuts and tight jeans. Emergencies is just good noisy hook-laden guitar driven rock anthems that isn't ankle deep in hipster bullshit. I wish we had more bands like Olympia these days.
