WE ARE THE IN CROWD – “Guaranteed To Disagree”
CARTEL has turned out to be a pretty big influence on bands. I didn’t see it coming, but the polished, infectious pop-punk/melodic rock of the band’s first couple of releases has definitely found life downstream, especially on a band like WE ARE THE IN CROWD. This Poughkeepsie, NY five piece features the talented female vocals of Tay Jardine, whose smooth, low-slung vocals add a unique, aged credibility that belies the actual youthfulness of the band. For the better, Tay’s vocals do not overpower. Producer Zach Odom tucks them into crevices in the warm guitars and impeccably pairs them with the hearty co-vocals of Jordan Eckes. It’s not until the EP’s final track, “Calendar Pages” that Tay demonstrates her vocal range, with her singing right through the the crunching guitars and blustering til the song’s stirring end. It’s not the band’s sound or style that will grab you – this kind of contemporary unarmed pop-punk is well worn – but it’s the ‘fit and finish’ of the 22 minute recording that makes it endearing. Hopeless has done this before – ushering in their young and promising bands with shorter releases that contain only good songs and a warning of short of big things being ahead.
