The Letter E - No. 5ive Long Player
(Tiger Style)
It is not that unusual for a rock supergroup to end up being less than the sum
of its parts. However, for one to be less than the maximum component of its
parts; that is odd. Such a statement may very well apply to The Letter E,
the supergroup (of sorts) that combines Curtis Harvey (Rex, Pullman, etc.)
with Sean Meadows (June of 44, Hoover, etc.).
The Letter E seems like it should be a very good band. The first released
song by the group was the last track on June of 44's Lion EP that compiled
several side projects from members of that band. That song was actually
very good, probably the best track on the EP. A few months later, a four
song EP of material was released by the band, including the track from the Lion
EP. Okay, so the best track on the Lion EP was also the best track on the
Letter E EP, but so what, right? If the band were to record a full length,
that is bound to be a great album. Heck, they might even get somebody great
like Bob Weston to record it for them. Then, you know you better watch your
ass before it has a size 13 planted firmly in it.
Well, that has happened, and Bob Weston did record The Letter E's debut full
length No. 5ive Long Player, and I am sad to say my ass has no shoe impressions
in it. The Letter E's LP ends up much like the EP, pretty much lifeless
except for a couple short moments. The sound of the band is just
what one might expect. Curtis Harvey seems to have the lead here, so the
sound is quite a bit similar to Rex or Pullman with the prominent sound being
steady-paced, quiet guitar playing with little to no impact from the bass or
drums. Of course Sean Meadows is not allergic to such sounds, as was seen in
the electric guitar only songs of the debut EP of his solo project Everlasting
the Way, so he gladly plays along. There are several moments where the band
hints at being more aggressive, creating something more akin to Meadows'
previous bands, however, the music leaves it at hints, and no full on rock
moments are provided.
This can all be seen in the album's first track, "Alushta," so it is a fair
litmus test for determining if this album is for you. The song starts with the
clacking of drumsticks against each other as short segments of organ, vibes,
and guitar pitter patter about. The song continues these simple short phrases
for close to six minutes before a more prominent, aggressive guitar part
finally fully emerges, bringing out the existing quieter guitar along with it
for a couple minutes of interplay that is still modestly paced but a bit fuller.
This ending section hints towards something with a bit more grandeur, a bit
more rock, but definitely never attempts to cross that line, which is a big
reason why this release is so unsatisfying. To sit through six minutes of
pitter patter is acceptable in music like this, but when the listener does
so, he's expecting a big payoff, and The Letter E never really delivers that,
not on "Alushta" and not really on any of their seven songs here. There is
plenty of pitter patter, of course, but hardly any payoff.
The name, The Letter E, itself seems to be tepid and unimaginative. David
Pajo stages a personal revolt against naming bands with M and its variations;
now we also have The Letter E. You would think the worst case scenario buying
this album was that the band would just give the listener more of the same,
something similar to but not quite as great as the music they have recorded
before. However, this is worse than just more of the same; No. 5ive Long
Player sounds more like a lifeless, young band mindlessly copying acts like
Rex and June of 44 rather than new material from those actual guys.
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