Helms - McCarthy
(Kimchee)
Karate perfected this shit seven years ago. You know that, I know that... hell, even Helms knows that. Midtempo mathy guitar pop can only be taken so far. Several bands have come and gone, doing it almost as well with their own twists. Karate still exists but isn't making the same old thing anymore. So what does Helms have to add? Helms' first album, The Swimmer, gets a mild recommendation from me, despite the fact that there's nothing spectacular about their sound. Instead, it gets a thumbs up from me for its ability through word and sound to put the listener in a very warm and cozy place, that being a mid-80s play date with action figures, the Atari 2600, and dreams of finally being able to do all the cool stuff teenagers get to do. Helms' second album, McCarthy (named after the brothers in the band; the band is named after the the drummer), is perhaps more adventurous in that it displays a greater use of space and dynamics, but it's still trapped entirely within the confines of midtempo mathy guitar pop. And the songs just aren't as powerful as before. No one waxes nostalgic over the contents of their desk, the listing of which on this album parallels the listing of toys on The Swimmer. If Helms can't be evocative, all they have to add to mathy guitar pop is that their guitar playing is a little sloppier. If your Karate and The Van Pelt records are still in heavy rotation, Helms is also up your alley, but otherwise don't bother.
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