The Reason – Ravenna
(Smallman)

The Ontario band formerly known as Sewing With Nancie have definitely gone through some changes since the last time I heard them. They’ve renamed themselves to The Reason and refocused their sound with a new style that’s a lot tighter, a lot harder and a lot more in line with current trends. If you dig all the current trends in punk rock, you’re going to love this record. Personally, I have heard enough screaming/singing combos in recent months to last me for at least another 50 years. Do we really need another band like this out there?

I will say this: I can see why Smallman Records decided to sign these guys, because Ravenna is a very solid album in terms of musicianship and production. It was recorded with ex-members of Grade in Burlington and their influence has helped bring out an edgier sound in the band. The Reason combine the glossy melodic new school sound of bands like A New Found Glory and The Starting Line with the hardcore screaming and metallic riffs of Sick Of It All or Earth Crisis. In their bio the band also mentions that they have incorporated dance and funk elements into their sound as well — but that might be stretching it a bit.

Songs like “My Prescription” and “Subways In Pittsburgh” are poppy enough that I could see them played on commercial radio alongside A Simple Plan or Blink 182. On the other hand, songs like “Red Sky At Dawn” and “A Timeless Classic” feature a lot more thrash and hardcore than Muchmusic is probably willing to play — for the moment at least.

The problem is that there are just so many bands that are doing this exact combination of styles right now. Thursday, Senses Fail, Poison The Well, From Autumn To Ashes, Atreyu, Thrice, Alexisonfire … the list goes on. All of these bands have hardcore parts so the angry kids can feel rebellious, and poppy choruses so their girlfriends can swoon and sing along. If you think it’s a good thing that The Reason sound exactly like these bands, then by all means do whatever it takes to get your hands on this 10-song CD. I just find this melding of styles to be almost humourous, as it attempts to fuse two completely opposite ends of the punk rock spectrum.

The high point of the album for me is the only real break in the formula, “Afterparty at the Actor’s Estate”, capturing the bitter melancholy of The Promise Ring and The Alkaline Trio in the lowest energy song of the bunch.

Biases aside, I can’t say The Reason don’t have some catchy hooks and a few breakdowns that “slay”. But when I listen to an album like this, I just can’t help discarding it with the realization that it will not stand the test of time once the trend dies away. It’s clear that there is talent here, but as long as the music is so tightly bound to current conventions, The Reason will never give anyone a real reason to pay closer attention to them. — Sean

Around the Web: