Album Review: Woe, Is Me "Number[s]"

written by Jared Ohgren

Woe, Is Me - Number[s]
Release Date: August 31st, 2010
Record Label: Velocity/Rise Records

Most bands put their heart and soul into getting to where they are in their scene. Countless shows as free agents, many sub-par independent releases just so they can get their name out there, hours and hours of hard DIY work on the slightest possibility of touring, and trying to get a fan base that will hopefully get them spotted by a label. Now meet the band Woe, Is Me. Everything I previously stated you should disregard for this band. They signed to Velocity/Rise Records before even playing their first show as a band. This may be credited to the fact that the drummer for Woe, Is Me used to be the drummer for Rise Records alumni, Of Machines. Of Machines broke up last year and Woe, Is Me rose from its ashes.

Woe, Is Me may bring up a bad taste in many peoples’ mouths. Number[s] is very heavy laden with the cliché breakdowns that every hater criticizes bands of doing. However, there is talent within the 7-piece from Georgia, it’s just overpowered by the lack of quality and difference between songs. The album is 10 tracks which is pretty standard for a debut on Rise. The run time for the record is barely under 30 minutes which is the record’s biggest flaw. You listen to the first song, which is only 50 seconds so why count it a song, and it leads straight into the second song. Midway through the song you’re thinking, “I can dig this. I might enjoy this CD.” suddenly the record is over and you’re left unsatisfied with hopes and expectations for a better, longer CD.

Even though Number[s] is short and not so sweet, the band has two aspects to it that almost redeem the run time. Front man / clean vocalist, Tyler Carter, has pipes that are very similar to a younger version of Emarosa’s vocalist, Jonny Craig. Even though every hardcore band seems to have clean vocals and the idea is pretty played out, Carter’s vocals breath new life into the slight monotony of the CD. Carter’s vocals stand out the most on the tracks, “If Not, For Ourselves” and “Desolate [The Conductor]” where his R & B style shines through the instruments. The second aspect of Woe, Is Me that is impressive is the programming. Drummer, Austin Thornton, previously handled the programming in Of Machines and gave that band the edge over a lot of other bands in the scene. Much of his programming signature is present on Number[s] and he added a few new effects influenced by dub step (as seen on Desolate [The Conductor]).

Number[s] is an odd record. The musicality and talent are in the band but everything is weighed down by the monotonous breakdowns that happen every 15 seconds in each song. This is by no means a terrible release for Woe, Is Me’s first album and first taste of original work from the band. For the next release hopefully there will be fewer breakdowns and more melody in the songs because that would make this band stand out a lot more than they do now.

Verdict: ★★.5/★★★★★

Verdict if their were no breakdowns: ★★★/★★★★★

Track listing:

1. On Veiled Man
2. (&) Delinquents
3. Mannequin Religion
4. Keep Your Enemies Close
5. Hell, or High Water
6. For the Likes of You
7. I
8. Our Number(s) [Ft. Jonny Craig]
9. If Not, For Ourselves
10. Desolate (The Conductor) [Ft. Jonny Craig]