I knew nothing of Erase Errata before I saw them at All Tomorrow's Parties at UCLA. Their brand of nervy pop/punk was sufficiently arty and catchy enough to make me remember them when I saw their album at Amoeba Records (and the amazing cover art didn't hurt, either). Popping in the CD, I realized that the album was a recreation of their live show in the studio. Not that this was a bad thing, since it was their live show that attracted me to them, anyway. The record is a good start for the band, propulsive beats that keep the short, almost Wire-like songs moving towards the end. And when I say short, I mean SHORT. The songs run from 48 seconds to an epic two minutes and thirty seconds. Even with fifteen songs, the album runs under half an hour. This works to the band's advantage, though. They charge in, playing their songs just long enough for the listener to get acquainted, and then quit early, leaving the audience wanting more.
But as much as the band sounds like Pink Flag-era Wire, with their short abrasive songs, they aren't quite up to the level of songwriting or performing quality that Wire had. Even their best tracks, like the opener, "Tongue Tied," "Walk Don't Fly," or the almost title track "Other Animals Are #1," sound awkward in construction and performance. The band obviously wants to play with shifting dynamics, but they don't have the writing talent to make the transition feel natural, nor the chops to make the transition smooth. At times, the guitar sounds out of place with the rest of the band, plucking at single notes while the rest of the band is laying down a bed of sound. Even live the band seemed a bit unsure of themselves, not really knowing how to take command of the crowd.
Still, Erase Errata is just starting out, and Other Animals shows the band has enough verve and potential to become a really tight band down the road. Other Animals is enjoyable as it stands, even with the band still finding their footing. As they are now, Erase Errata are already a band worth listening to, but they're also a band worth watching to see what they will do next. Provided you find Other Animals at the right price, this disc is good enough that you will find yourself listening to it enough to justify the purchase.
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