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So Finch is back from a self imposed hiatus with a new offering in the form of a four song, self titled EP. The real question is, do people still care about Finch? after their last album polarized their fanbase and set them on the path to an indefinite hiatus, will people still be willing to give Finch a listen? They should, as this EP does an admirable job of attempting to bridge the gap between fans of Say Hello to Sunshine and What it is to Burn.

Are there still jagged, atonal riffs? Yes. Is there a lot of melody and some great sing slong choruses? Yes. Songs such as "Daylight" and "From Hell" do a very good job of combining the heavier aspects of Finch's sound and the sing out loud choruses of their earlier work. Both of these songs reminded me of "Miro" upon the first couple of listens. Song structure is much more traditional this time around with all except one song following the verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus format. One thing you won't find on this EP is Nate Barcalow's extensive use of Mike Patton-ish whisper to scream vocal stylization. Also gone, is Nate's use of guttural screams, which can be counted one one hand this time around. Marc Allen is also gone, which to me was a major cause for concern as his drumming on Say Hello to Sunshine is to be commended, regardless of your feelings on the rest of the album. No need to worry though, as Drew Marcogliese does a fine job filling in.

Undoubtedly, the high point of the EP is the epic "Chinese Organ Donors." Clocking in at over seven minutes and spanning a quarter of the album, "Chinese Organ Donors" might be the most adventurous song Finch has ever written. From the blistering intro of "ahhs" to the electronic sound effects littering the song, "Chinese Organ Donors" hits all the right marks. "Chinese Organ Donors" features both the best guitar work on the album and the best use of Nate's vocals. Hearkening back to songs such as "Dreams of Psilocybin," Nate's vocals are in top form.

I only have two complaints with Finch's latest offering. One, outside of "Chinese Organ Donors," all the songs end rather abruptly. Two, the EP itself just seems too short. By the time I really started to get into the album, it was over. I wish Finch had held back this EP until they had one or two more songs to add to it. Regardless, Finch's self titled EP is a noble effort and depending on your feelings towards Say Hello to Sunshine a step up or down from their previous effort.



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    Posted by mikexdude on 2008-08-16 07:05:15
    My Score:

    This band is a shitty waste.

    Posted by deadxlast on 2008-08-14 20:37:36

    It's seems kind of ignorant to call this band shitty or a waste. Yes, WIITB was arguably generic and uninspired compared to all of the other "alternative" records being released at the time, but the progression in musicianship, lyrical content, and overall creativity was through the roof in Sunshine. I love it.

    This EP is good too. I just bought it this week and it doesn't really sound much like either of their prior releases, or any recent releases by other popular bands who are making music that sounds mostly like two of the songs off of WIITB. It makes me happy.

    Posted by Mrdogg45 on 2008-08-14 12:00:07

    Can an EP, a vessel designed to be brief and build anticipation, really be criticized for being too short?

    Posted by boc on 2008-08-14 10:53:56

    Normally I won't comment just to say something negative about a band or a specific record but this sorry ass band is utter SHIT. Not only are ALL of their records generic trash but their live performance is so unbelievably sloppy and weak it will bring a tear to your eye

    Nothing this band has ever done has been groundbreaking, new or even interesting, and if you find yourself disagreeing with me than I beg you, go out and spend 10 minutes on fucking last fm (sorry about the plug) or something, and you'll never EVER listen to this crap again

    Posted by mikexdude on 2008-08-14 06:45:48
    My Score:

    This band is fuckin' trash.

    Posted by wentz_equals_death on 2008-08-13 23:27:24

    where did all you people come from

    Posted by strizzmatik on 2008-08-13 17:08:09
    My Score:

    My fucking God, if one more musical illiterate talks about how great that substandard pile of shit album WIITB is, I'm going to vomit uncontrollably. It wasn't groundbreaking. It wasn't new to anyone who listened to something other than MTV. It wasn't really that good at all. SHTS kills that record deader than Dillinger.

    Posted by fallingupwards84 on 2008-08-13 15:13:02

    2002 is stoked.

    Posted by skapunk810 on 2008-08-12 23:39:19

    need more what it is to burn

    Posted by SydBarrett420 on 2008-08-12 22:29:15

    I don't wanna hear bitching about grammar, spelling, or math since I wrote the review once and hit the submit button and had to go back and fix something and the entire review was gone so I had to write it again and it is indeed an inferior review compared to my first one.

    Posted by spoon_of_grimbo on 2008-08-12 21:34:07
    My Score:

    i can see you like "chinese organ donors" because every time you want to mention "chinese organ donors" you type out the words "chinese organ donors," but i guess it's worth having the words "chinese organ donors" about 8 times in a sentence because "chinese organ donors" is a good song and you like "chinese organ donors."

    score is for your grasp of pronouns (and the fact that it's ""chinese organ THIEVES")

    Posted by Wesley_Snipes on 2008-08-12 20:58:47
    My Score:

    Score is for McLovin' !! Organ Donar !!

    Posted by treos on 2008-08-12 20:48:08

    and i fuckin loved both those albums btw.

    Posted by treos on 2008-08-12 20:47:26
    My Score:

    that chinese track is pretty dopesick but the rest is kinda average.
    hope they come out with something better and full length soon though.
    and i agree - 50/50 what it is to burn/say hello to sunshine.

    Posted by RYANGP on 2008-08-12 17:04:18
    My Score:

    Why is it that when bands start to fizzle out they release self-titled albums or EPs?

    Honestly it's okay but nothing to write home about. I agree with tony below me.

    Posted by RoyalWithCheese on 2008-08-12 16:28:42

    woody wood pecker

    Posted by baseball on 2008-08-12 16:17:22

    What is up with that cover art? I mean, seriously. That's bad.

    Posted by thirtyseconds on 2008-08-12 16:15:47

    Heard it. Can't remember a single second of it.

    Posted by greenvandal on 2008-08-12 15:47:12
    My Score:

    This bands logo looks stupid as fuck. Score is for stylized f's in circles.

    Posted by Piata on 2008-08-12 15:36:34
    My Score:

    Better than "say hello to sunshine", but it will never compare to "what it is to burn" which is still an amazing album to date.

    Posted by tonyhoag on 2008-08-12 14:25:12
    My Score:

    honestly, it's okay. Where as people say its half-What it is to burn, half-Say Hello to sunshine, I think it sounds like they want to play Say Hello to Sunshine, but are half in the door, half out. They don't want to go all out, because we saw where that got them. They need to be themselves. Don't write songs for your fanbase. The people that moved on are probably not into music anymore. Get the new teenies. Get a good marketing crew or label or managment or whatever.

    I did not like the drumming on a few occasions (only real complaint. the rest I can get used to).

    Posted by paulrulzdood on 2008-08-12 14:24:39

    "math is unpunx" hahahaha, awesome.

    i don't really care about this. "say hello to sunshine" was interesting but forgettable in the long run. "what it is to burn" was pretty awesome for its time but in retrospect kind of sounds numetally like fuckin breaking benjamin or something. but in 2002 i thought "what it is to burn" was like an epic wave of the future of punk album, for realz. they could have been massive but took too long to put out the follow up and when they did they had turned into a dillenger escape plan meets faith no more meets blood brothers band with weird structures and shit. cool album but had zero commercial appeal. i bet geffen was pissed.

    also, nate has very little frontman charisma, seems kind of awkward as a front man, but maybe that's just me.

    i hate ep's, especially short 4 song ones. wait another 6 months and put out a full length or just don't bother. i guess they're paying for it themselves but whatever. i'm sure fans would be happier going 4 years between albums for a full length verses 3 years and getting just an ep.

    Posted by weffjebster on 2008-08-12 13:31:42

    "Undoubtedly, the high point of the EP is the epic "Chinese Organ Donors." Clocking in at over seven minutes and spanning a quarter of the album"

    But it's a 4 song EP... That would mean all the songs are over seven minutes, right?

    Meh, forget it, math is unpunx

    Posted by SilentStorms on 2008-08-12 13:15:26

    Fuck Itunes. I don't need to hear this that bad. Score's for me not hearing their music because I refuse to be a bitch.

    Posted by red_eye_inc on 2008-08-12 11:34:53

    These guys are a little to nu-metaly for me

    Posted by KurtTGS on 2008-08-12 11:18:53

    Alex Pappas is still polarized.

    Posted by nocigar on 2008-08-12 10:48:15

    No thanks. The cover art speaks for itself.

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