JANUARY 2008 ONLINE EDITORIALS
Synthetic Elements - Standing Still
By Nate Harper
Colorado ska/punks the Synthetic Elements have grit on their new record, “Standing Still.” However their mix of styles - reggae, swelling anthems, etc. - sometimes leaves you wishing they would stick more to their strong points. Which isn’t to say that their reggae is bad, it’s just that when they get their rock machine fired up, it has a formidable sound.
Unlike many punk/ska acts that have a fast paced, generic horn riff to fill in for a second guitar on almost every song, the Synthetic Elements use their brass in a more restrained manner, allowing the song to keep its rock edge while still expanding its scope by dint of the enhanced instrumentation. And, also refreshingly, they don’t feel the need to shoehorn their brass section into every song, instead using it only when if fits the track.
For the all-out rockers the record, of which there are many, the riffs are catchy and lead singer Todd McMullan has enough rasp in his throat to remind listeners that punk started off rebellious 30 years ago before getting cannibalized by people hawking cell phones. And it is this very downfall that is the subject of many of their songs – the fall of punk and the general decay of the world, both morally and commercially.
As with all pissed-off punk, the songs work better when they’re specific, and it is here the band occasionally falls into the trap of hurling insults at “them,” and ranting about the nature of “things.” Ideally the band could itemize their list of tragedies before singing about them, as a well-worded critique of an idea or lifestyle does more to reach others than an insightless rant about everything.
Musically the band sounds tight, and though the groups relatively young average age, 22, might make this surprising, the core of the band, McMullan, along with multi-instrumentalist Mike Blecha, bassist Kyle Hernandez, and drummer Bret Carson, have been playing together for five years, and their shared experience comes through in their songwriting and execution.
The bands website, skanktown.com, cites their influences as Goldfinger and Less Than Jake, and though the guys themselves say they don’t conveniently fit in any category, it would seem inaccurate to not mention Sublime and Flogging Molly as well – which isn’t to say that they sound derivative, just that their mix of styles, while perhaps not always playing to their stronger talents, sill makes for an interesting listen.
See myspace.com/syntheticelements for more info and show dates.