the pathetic caverns - music by artist - The Drawers

This indie-rock trio shows considerable promise on Parlor Noise. On the positive side, The Drawers demonstrate an impressive sense of musical tension, dynamics, and the ability to evoke several different moods. A surf-instrumental influence is often present in Chris Duckett's staccato single-note guitar parts, but it's filtered through an adventurous melodic sense that doesn't lapse into cliché. The band has more than a handful of good ideas, with some of the best songs -- like "One Foot" and "Where the Sea-Lanes Lead" -- deep in the running order.

On the minus side, the album sounds like it was mixed by a guitarist, consistently giving the drums short shrift. The band also makes questionable performance choices -- sometimes The Drawers are simply sloppy, but the guitar, bass, and drums in "Frozen Oil" squabble over the song's rhythm in a way that's baffling rather than math-rock cool. The Drawers would benefit tremendously from some professional recording assistance.