Austinist Album Capsule: The Narrator's All That to the Wall

The Narrator All That to the Wall (Flameshovel)

The Chicago group’s interlocking skeletal structures of stark clean guitars and bouncy, thick elastic rhythms might remind one of Foolish era Superchunk or …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead at their most mild. However, it is the vocal arrangements on the album that are the most interesting. The hooks are like dissonant harmonic cries for help so catchy they urge you to sing along. With lethargic lyrics on dense cuts like "Speeding Up the Gang", it's quite hard not to relate these boys.

“My job is ruining my life/ I got pride bursting from my eyes/ And that’s why they call me lazy.”

"SurfJew" is one of the more infectious and hyperactive songs on the record, with spiky pop that can be compared to any song The Wedding Present may have written. Overall, The Narrator’s potential is limitless. They have the musical chops and vocal styling that are definitely charming. We're sure their live show is hard to beat. What makes this record different from any emo sounding record is that they are willing to experiment and rethink what makes a good song. "A Decade In Kentucky" is both unsettling and grandiose a tune as it gets, and if there is such a thing as a feedback anthem, this is it. The Narrator are one of those bands whose humor, sensibilities and charm should not go unnoticed.

The Narrator: [Myspace]
"Breaking the Turtle" (YouTube): Video]