The Transit War – Miss Your Face

The Transit War – Miss Your Face / 2006 Orange Peal / 11 Tracks / http://www.thetransitwar.com / http://www.orangepeal.com / Reviewed 25 September 2006

The Transit War start off “Miss Your Face” with “Radar”, a track that skillfully blends Alkaline Trio with Appleseed Cast and The All-American Rejects. Thus, something is crafted that allows the band to simultaneously work on three different planes, in three different periods of emo music. The band could start strong and fizzle out, but “Nitetime Enemy” starts off in much of the same vein. The slower vocals that open up this track start to gain fury and energy as the track gears up. The wondrous thing about The Transit War during this track is how well the vocalist can keep this intensity under wraps, only letting it bubble up at certain points during the track.

The cohesion of the band with all constituent parts is best shown during this track, as the full tracks sounds organically constructed, instead of being layered to perfection. The splashy drums of a track like “Loud” are reminiscent of those from Blink 182, albeit [placed into a context that the aforementioned skin hits were never in. The majestic grandeur of The Transit War is reiterated to the listeners eleven times on “Miss Your Face”. The act may not have as many fans as A Static Lullaby or Acceptance, but there is little doubt in my mind that The Transit War will be rapidly climbing up this chart as soon as this disc comes out. Songs are short enough to allow the act to rapidly transition, while “Chutes and Lasers” brings fans into an entirely new realm of The Transit War’s creation.

The faster tempo is not punk influenced, but sees the act achieving double-time in providing something that is similar to an amped up Brand New. Each of the songs on this album could have another life as a radio single, and while different tracks elicit different emotions from their listeners, the one thing that all of the tracks on the disc agree on is promoting The Transit War as a solid act, both musically and lyrically. 2006 has not been a year of impressive emo albums, and The Transit War begin to remedy that problem with “Miss Your Face”. As for immediate complaints, nothing comes to mind. The Transit War come through humbly on their “Miss Your Face” and create something that is both endearing and not constricting; the next album that the band cuts will be that much more impressive, I am sure of it.

Top Tracks: Chutes and Lasers, Lupus

Rating: 7.4/10

[JMcQ]