Supermodel Suicide – Might As Well Just Kill Us Now

Supermodel Suicide – Might As Well Just Kill Us Now / 2005 Self / 5 Tracks / http://www.supermodelsuicide.com / [email protected] / Reviewed 17 August 2005

Supermodel Suicide is influenced by the geometrically-taken bands that have found their way to fame in the last few years (The Killers, Franz Ferdinand). In fact, the first track on “Might As Well Just Kill Us Now” “1996” has more than a passing similarity to the latter’s “This Fire”. The same general sound dominates during “The Unheard Testimony of Johnny Danger”, even if the audible comparison to other acts is diminished. The guitar on “Johnny Danger” looks back to the halcyon days of classic rock, while the vocals gradually glom onto hints of Mick Jagger. Regardless of comparable bands, Supermodel Suicide do play a brand of rock that is straight-forward and ultimately catchy. There is not the experimentation that makes some of the more “out-there” bands; Supermodel Suicide is a band following on the well-trodden path that began with The Beatles and made stops through Aerosmith and Motley Crue before hitting the present day.

“Columbian Necktie” even shucks away the flair in which the disc’s earlier tracks were conceived; what is shown by the track is that the band can thrive on the equivalent to a Spartan drum beat and a repetitious guitar riff. “Columbia Necktie” does suffer slightly, in that the track does not sound as clearly mastered as the rest of the disc’s fare; what could cut to the bone in terms of blazing guitar or gruff vocals are smoothed out by this fuzz. Finishing the disc off with “Dead Birds”, Supermodel Suicide really seem to be falling into a rut, until that part of the track where every bit of structure breaks down. This bit of experimentation is exactly what the doctor ordered, and allow the band to soar with the utmost ease to the ending of the disc. Five tracks are usually not enough to gauge a band, but the cohesion enjoyed by each of the tracks on “Might As Well Just Kill Us Now” is a good enough indicator to allow individuals to extrapolate. A full-length disc may be a challenge for Supermodel Suicide, but as long as they continue this rough and raw brand of rock (without falling into morose ballads or acoustic tracks), the band has enough tracks to keep a listener involved and interested for ten or eleven tracks. To enjoy the most success, however Supermodel Suicide should really re-evaluate their heavy use of the currently-popular angular guitar riff. Eminently fun and easy to recall, Supermodel Suicide are a fun rock act.

Top Track: 1996

Rating: 6.1/10