Okay, so the cover art is a little dramatic. The songs have titles like "The Blind Believe." The band has clearly listened to a lot of Dischord records. But you know what? In the end, it all comes together to produce a record that straight-up rocks harder than anything I've heard in a while.
Reds aren't necessarily looking to break new ground; they're not out to create their own genre, or to have their names dropped at the proverbial rock and roll water cooler as the next big thing. This is a band that are sure about what they want to say, how they want to say it, and are good at what they do. They are not weighed down by tortured artistry; the songs have the same meaty texture as Fugazi's, and they occupy the same space between rock and hardcore. The guitars come on loud and intense, but the tempos are moderate and the production is clear, so we don't feel overwhelmed. We have time to listen.
And careful listening yields rich rewards with this record, because the lyrics are crucial. They're not necessarily clever or poetic; rather, they are heartfelt ideas, clearly expressed. The rare instances of poetic language--"these thoughts on the tip of my tongue, like caged birds, wait to be set free"--mark some of the weaker points in the album; vocalist Evan does far better when he simply says what he means. Throughout the record, Reds give us their thoughts on war (bad), communication (important), and hope (crucial). These stark, plaintive expressions again recall early Fugazi, but again, it's so well done that the resemblance is forgivable.
Is:means is Reds' debut album, and, as the main qualities of the band so far seem to be general competence and genuine passion, it's anyone's guess as to where they will go next. The songs often have a duel quality to them; the sound and delivery is very straightforward, but the structure is more sophisticated, hinting at a band with more ambitious leanings. Often, a rawk-out chorus will be followed by a sudden shift in tone: a haunting, angular breakdown that recalls some of Reds' labelmates on Waking (think Sinaloa or Stop It!!). Reds also make good use of loud-soft dynamics, often cycling through several moods and tempos within a single song. "Instrumental" (which does in fact have vocals) shows the band at their most abstract; here, they create long arcs of wispy, ambient noise, allowing the music to convey that which even the most straightforward lyrics cannot.
Such moments are powerful, and they create variety in an otherwise uniform set of songs. In the end, though, the appeal of this band lies in their clean lines and straight execution. In a music world that is becoming increasingly bloated with genres and sub-genres, it's refreshing to hear an album that finds strength in returning to the basics.
