The best elements of Spitalfield’s Better Than Knowing Where You Are are in the details.
These little things, like a tambourine within the rhythmic verse drum pattern during “Secrets In Mirrors,” add up to exceed the actual length of this release. Vocalist/guitarist Mark Rose once agains leads the band as the emotional spokesman for the band’s style of emo-rock. Like Dexter Danger and my beloved Count The Stars, the material compels you to listen to this release repeatedly.
That first detail isn’t fully realized until the end of the last track. Over a melodic subdued guitar intro, Rose sings in first track “Dare to . . .” that “It’s just another stretch of highway / I never asked for ordinary / time and time change / if I rewrote this it might just sound the same.” Hold that thought.
The song continues as guitarist Dan Lowder, bassist TJ Milies and drummer JD Romero join in with the aggressive “The Only Thing That Matters,” which melts into the equally upbeat “On the Floor.” It’s not until “Secrets in Mirrors” that Rose and company slow the pace. With each track, Rose tells a different story about a relationship. “Mirrors” includes the revelation “I’ve been waiting / everything is taking way too long… / and I was wrong all along.” This track is the epitome of how rock bands should approach their material.
“Lasting First Impression,” “Novacaine” and “…Listen” complete this release strongly. “Lasting” is an uptempo track that contrasts with the slower “Novacaine,” but both are great, while the closing “… Listen” is the first detail of this release fully realized as Rose repeats the lyrics he sang in the opening, bookending the disc.
Spitalfield is one of my favorite bands. Their Remember Right Now disc has lived in my CD player for several month-long stretches since I first heard it, and this one is about to see the same fate. For good rock that pays attention to detail, this is one disc you should dare to listen to.
