2003 might seem like forever ago for some, possibly even two years ago for the majority of us. There were many good releases in those twelve months. Put On Your Rosy Red Glasses was one of these. So naturally I was very excited for The Number Twelve Looks Like You's next release.
The first thing I noticed on An Inch Of Gold For An Inch Of Time is that the production went up; everything sounds a lot more clean, as if a carpenter used a sander to rub the edges down a bit. The second thing I noticed was that one of the vocalists (yes, there's two) for whatever reason made his screaming a lot higher. It reminds me of the transfer of Johnny Whitney's vocals from Burn Piano Island Burn to Crimes. But not as singy.
If you liked Put On Your Rosy Red Glasses you'll probably like An Inch Of Gold For An Inch Of Time. This EP only has two new songs, two songs rerecorded and a cover.
"Clarissa Explains Cuntainment" and "Like A Cat" continue The Number Twelve Looks Like You's brand of techmonium. It might sound chaotic at times, but it's all very metal-technical and precise. Both songs have tons of parts to them, it's like crazzzzzy. Their ability to combine grind, metal riffs and more easy to listen to yet powerful-sounding parts makes them fun to listen to for fans of extreme music. But the higher almost sassy vocals make it so that dude who loves his hair and Daughters will also enjoy this album. Halfway through "Like A Cat," some more poppy elements are thrown in with singing in it that somehow works. Then at around two minutes one of the most melodic-brutal riffs kicks in right after an acoustic segue.
On a more nitpicky note, maybe it's just because I heard the previous versions, but the rerecordings of "Jesus And Tori" and "Don't Get Blood On My Prada Shoes" aren't as enjoyable as the versions on Put On Your Rosy Red Glasses. The rawness in the previous recording really benefited by adding a more brutal texture. For instance, the intro to "Jesus And Tori." The finger tapping in the original is so loud, it just grabs at you. The new intro just...pets you. The solo, near the end of the song, in the original version had this gritty quality to it that didn't let it get cheesy. Now with their better recording they went over the top. It sounds ridiculous. Before I visualized dragons, broadswords and Gatling guns. Now, I see some dude with long hair lubed up on a beach soloing with the soft waves climbing up the shore at his feet as a unicorn gallops towards him. Well, at least we can still listen to Put On Your Rosy Red Glasses. OR CAN WE?!?
The final song on the CD, a cover of "My Sharona" originally by The Knack, is horrible. The high sassy vocals just don't work. It's troubling at best. They attempt to make the cover their own by adding bits and pieces of heaviness and growling. I'd so much rather listen to The Blood Brothers cover "Under Pressure."
At times the two new songs sound almost fragmented with all of the parts in them. It sounds like The Number Twelve Looks Like You is experimenting. Hopefully the full length coming out won't be a recording of the band trying to find their sound, but instead the sound they're striving to get. Or maybe they just have a lot of ADD and need to cram all the different genres in one song. But at any rate, buying a CD for six minutes of new music in two songs and three songs of filler seems like a waste.
