Artist: The Gamits
Album: Antidote
Label: Suburban Home Records
Tracks: 11
Length: 41:35
Review by: Phil Nichols

The Gamits have been around since 1995, when singer/guitarist Chris Fogal formed the band while they were still in high school. They initially sought to marry their Beatles/Beach Boys influences with their own blend of speedy tempos and catchy melodies, but they found themselves struggling to stand out in the midst of the hundreds of other emerging power pop bands. But now, after nine years, three full-length albums, three EPs, sold out shows in Japan and Italy, many line up changes, and a whole lot musical growth, the band is back with the release of Antidote, their most mature effort to date.

Now, I am not going to lie, when I first heard this band I quickly pigeonholed them in the pop-punk genre and prepared myself for eleven tracks of three-chords anthems to heartbreak, whiney vocals, and hackneyed songwriting. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not the case at all. Musically, the band sounds like a union of the Alkaline Trio and Green Day with a touch of Calibretto thrown in occasionally. The guitar parts are kept interesting with alternate chords, catchy riffs, and a mix of both clean and distorted tones.

The Gamits have also done a decent job in keeping the album diverse. "Curious Vanessa Black" has a darker tone to it and is played in a minor key, but "Open Window" which sounds like it could have been taken right off of a Calibretto disc follows that track, keeping things from becoming boring. The fifth track, "How to Escape" has an infectious chorus that sounds like a Dookie B-side. The vocals are also done well, a sort of combination of Matt Skiba's raspy singing and Billy Joe Armstrong's nasal whining, but they usually stick to a consistent lower range, so they aren't as effective as they could be. The real standout point of the album is probably the songwriting. Fogal uses some nice imagery especially in tracks like "Bloodstains/Picture Frames" where he writes, "The truth was backwards in a note/ The bathroom mirror told me so/ And I need this more than anything/ Just like a moth drawn to a flame/ Although my wings are burning/ I know I'll be returning/ I'll never learn till it's too late." The lyrics are well-written for the most part, a rare feat in an age of cliché-laden one hit wonders.
 
Overall, this is a decent release. The songs are catchy, the hooks will stay with you, and for the most part it will keep your interest from start to finish. The problem with Antidote is that, because this really is not anything new, you will tire of it quickly. It doesn't have the originality that will allow for it to stand the test of time. If you are a fan of Green Day or the Alkaline Trio, you will initially get some enjoyment out of this, but with repeated listens you will find that you enjoy it less and less. But hey, if you're looking for a dose of pop-punk to get you through the summer, The Gamits are a nice alternative to most lackluster bands getting radio play right now.