Silverstein
When Broken Is Easily Fixed

The most observant among you, upon seeing the splendid artwork on the album's main cover, will notice a certain resemblance to the cover art of a certain "Something To Write About Home" by the Get Up Kids, an emo rock band from Kansas City...

After two rather unripe EPs, they signed with Victory Records (a label specialized in the field and always keen to bolster their already well-stocked roster of hardcore, emo, and metalcore bands) and the full-length debut in 2003 with this "When Broken Is Easily Fixed."

Despite the excellent sales response the opus received, a bit surprising and yet not so much, and a good quality, we remain quite far from the glories of the excellent second LP "Discovering The Waterfront."

Although the sounds aren't far from those of the subsequent effort, this album lacks profuse anthems and the production isn't particularly outstanding. The production includes arrangements featuring the addition of a violin that threads through several tracks.

The formula of the album is roughly as follows: delicate arpeggios, voice sometimes calm and gentle, sometimes screamed, heavy riffs and not, drums with medium and sometimes high tempos.

The best track is the very one that opens the dance, "Smashed into Pieces", a true emocore anthem and a hymn for the fans of the Burlington quintet. Speed and power give way to a slow and solemn chorus, to call it stunning is an understatement, capable alone of melting even the hardest hearts.

The other noteworthy tracks, which also provide significant insights on the songwriting front, later set aside by the combo are "Bleeds No More" and "Last Days of Summer". The first is without a doubt the most furious and extreme piece in the entire discography with almost nonstop and rending screams, placated only by a slow interlude where the sound of a violin can be heard. The second winks at the indie-rock of Juliana Theory and Texas Is The Reason, managing to be, in its construction, absolutely mind-bending. It transitions seamlessly from a slow and almost whispered first part to a second that spills over into the purest screamo and on the verge of metal.

The other pieces do their job without excelling particularly, however, "November" deserves a mention. While the featuring of Kyle Bishop of Grade (another Canadian band now disbanded, dedicated to emocore/screamo) in the screams of the closing title track is noteworthy.

A decent debut that anticipates that bombshell "Discovering The Waterfront."