Artist: This Providence

Album: Our World’s Divorce

Label: Rocketstar Recordings

Tracks: 10

Length: 56:24

                Reviewed By: Justin Brinker

 

I had not heard anything about This Providence until I received their full length in the mail and started doing some research and it seems like the decision is unanimous: everyone loves this band. I keep hearing words like “amazing”, “astounding”, or “beautiful” when describing This Providence’s debut release, “Our World’s Divorce.”  I hate to be the one to rock the boat, but very rarely does a new band surface that deserves such a worthy title.  It does happen, but this is definitely not one of those moments.  That is not to say that this is a bad release, it just is not very strong.

 

This Providence’s sound is a mix of all things emo, independent rock, and pop punk.  This is a band that will go through a tremendous amount of growth and will probably be a fairly strong unit if they stick together, but now it seems like they are trying to pin down their sound.  The opener “Well Versed in the Ways of the Word” begins with the high-pitched almost falsetto vocals, a wall of distorted guitars, and plenty of melody before the walking bass line kicks in and the guitars drop out intermittently. This is also an indicator for what you can expect throughout much of this release. “Truth and Reconciliation” sounds like something off of a Taking Back Sunday record while “Everyday” starts with a piano introduction and employs strings but ends up mimicking the same method and sound Saves The Day engaged in just a few years ago both vocally and musically.  Unfortunately this is the case for much of “Our World’s Divorce.” The band does show some illuminating moments in the acoustic driven “Certain Words In Uncertain Times” and also the extremely poppy “Catching My Breath.”

 

“Our World’s Divorce” displays signs of a young band that shows flashes of great musicianship but it is not enough to separate themselves from the rest of pack. If you are a fan of any of the aforementioned bands then you will definitely enjoy this, if not then I suggest looking elsewhere.