Scams / Add & Subtract

Scams
Add & Subtract
(Devil Duck Records)
***
Scams are an odd combination of things you don't think would really work. With one foot firmly on the math rock bullseye and the other within the American Emo camp, it's an odd little combination of deep, instrumental interesting bits, and slightly less interesting chugging choruses.

The production is really key here; a very individual, deep, quite meaty, drum and guitar sound sometimes push the group into some ballsy post rock territory, such as on the subtly restrained 'It's War'.

It's in the vocals that you'll find yourself debating over. While the instrumental parts have as an edge of danger, the all-American sounding college rock voice sometimes smooths over what could otherwise be quite an interesting bleak record. 'Jessica's Drawn That Way', bringing in Clash-esque ska-isms and all, does the best at bringing all the elements of the band together.

Add & Subtract will deffinitely find an audience, but to start escaping college rock comparisons which will soon date them, their mouth shoudl start getting as grizzly as their back bone.
Nicholas Burman