Only Thunder is a band from Denver, CO that features members of Pinhead Circus, Ghost Buffalo, Blackout Pact, and many others. Their debut album ,Lower Bounds, is (well) a thundering record that isn’t overly emo, isn’t overly post-punk, but isn’t straight ahead punk rock either. Eh? Something like that. I’ve been listening to Lower Bounds since the week before Christmas and have returned to it many times trying to find out if I was missing something, but I’ve never been wowed . The band is technically good and avoid a lot of the trappings that make this sort of music fall flat; the songs are melodic, dynamic, and sonically interesting but that’s about it. The songs aren’t bad and every time I put on the record I don’t turn it off, but something is missing. I hate to compare them to Hot Water Music, but there are similarities (for the record, I also hear some Face To Face and/or Hum influences). The music is fairly heavy and grooving post-hardcore rock but never really makes me want to pump my fist in the air or sing along. Where the guys in Hot Water Music seemingly pour every ounce of their heart and soul into the music, Only Thunder sounds mechanical in comparison; like the songs on Lower Bounds are more of an exercise than a release. Overall, Lower Bounds is better than it is worse but as much as I don’t mind listening to it, I’d rather thrown on my Forever And Counting LP and be done with it.
MP3 | Only Thunder – Tapestries, Candles, and Zima Lower Bounds
MP3 | Only Thunder – Computer Says No Lower Bounds
