Artist: Bosio
Album: This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
Tracks: 3
Length: 10:59
Review By: Christopher Thomas!

Before I even took the shrink wrap off the CD, I knew what I would be hearing.  The band photo on the cover, the flashy-through-messy artwork, the ironic song titles: it came together so perfectly.  Here’s what I predicted: catchy, guitar-driven rock (I’m trying to avoid the word “screamo” here) with squeal-filled, “emotional” vocal delivery and some screaming in the background behind the otherwise “pretty vocals.”  And these Wisconsin boys delivered. 

Don’t get me wrong, these guys are good at what they do.  It’s just unfortunate that what they do is what every other band is doing right now.  They’re good on their instruments, and the songs are catchy, but they’re bringing absolutely nothing new to the table.  They offer nothing to set them apart from the bajillion similar bands that are pasting themselves all over PureVolume and MySpace right now. 

The production is very good, especially for an independent release.  The artwork is similarly excellent, but again it is very “now,” and I see the same style on every CD in Hot Topic.  The artwork is not the focus of a record review, but I think it’s another good example of how Bosio is unwilling to step away from an already well-worn path.

If you like all the other “emotional” indie bands that are out there right now, then you’ll probably like Bosio.  But much like many unfortunate bands from the ska and pop-punk fads a few years back, Bosio is in great danger of being lost in the shuffle and quickly forgotten.

(By the way, guys, it’s “Matzoh Balls.”  With an “o.”)