We’ve all been in this situation: you hear a band that sounds like they have a lot going for them and would be really good if it wasn’t for one teensy-weensy little area where they fall short. GREATDAYFORUP is a, well, great example of this. For starters, though, let’s start on the band’s strengths. There are plenty of great stoner rock riffs to be had here. Modern CORROSION OF CONFORMITY is a pretty good starting point to describe their style. Up-tempo rockers like “Another Lesson” and “Man’s Ruin” go along nicely with their slower, doomier tracks like “To the Limit”. I also really the guitar tone here: obviously we have low tuned graininess as is the stoner standard, but we also have a robust, high bass twist to it. Very nice. Also, as you can see, the cover art is wicked cool as well.

Now for the negative: the vocals. Vocalist Michael Langone sounds very similar to Jack White of THE WHITE STRIPES and the like, and while I have absolutely nothing against the distorted nasally garage rock vocal style, it doesn’t fit well at all with a doom style that’s trying to be as dark as this. I also wish I had a better concept of what they were trying to say. As I listen I’m trying to tune out the vocals and concentrate on the killer riffs going on, and meanwhile the lyrics printed inside the jacket are printed in a completely illegible cursive font that gives me a headache if I squint at it too hard. The closing (title) track is an attempt at dark ambience with low piano and sound effects, which would work if the rest of the album sounded as gloomy as it’s supposed to. Unfortunately, with the upbeat rock vocals, this is never accomplished and the closer is left sounding inappropriate.

t’s albums like this that remind me why we have instrumental bands like ELECTRIC MAGMA. Still, if you are addicted to stoner rock riffs and have an immunity to out-of-place vocal styles, then give GREATDAYFORUP a go. Myself, I’m gonna sit back and hope that on the band’s next outing that Mr. Langone is replaced or at the very least puts forth more grit. In the meantime, they do have WinAmp plug-ins that will take vocals out of a song. If you can figure that out, you’ll be cooking with gas on this one.

- Cardona

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/greatdayforup

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