Artist: Apollo Up!
Album: Light the End and Burn it Through
Label: Theory 8
Tracks: 11
Length: 33:21
Review by: Mike “Kill Bill Vol. 2!!” Leech

I really don’t know what to say about this album. On the one hand, I don’t want to be overly critical of an album with such seemingly modest aspirations quality-wise, but on the other hand, I really just don’t like it very much. Maybe it’s the sloppy production. Maybe it’s Jay Leo Phillips’ strained and predictable vocals. Maybe it’s the disjointed and unmemorable hooks. I honestly don’t know. There’s just something unlikable about this album. Musically, it’s like a post punk, Frodus-inspired and metal-tinged attempt at progressive rock. Though the members of Apollo Up! all seem to be fairly talented musicians, the pieces simply do not fit together on Light the End and Burn it Through.

There are a few things about the album I did enjoy however, like the sweet guitar solo three minutes into “Jagged Eisenhower” and, uh... well, I’m sure there were other things too. The members of Apollo Up! weren’t trying to change the world with this album. They were just trying to have a little fun. Unfortunately, Light the End... turned out to be the kind of record that leaves no middle ground in terms of reception. You’re either going to love it or hate it, and I personally wouldn’t say that I loved it.