CD REVIEW: NEW MEDICINE – Breaking The Model

Label: Imagen Records

Release Date: August 25, 2014

Rating: 8.5/10

Reviewed by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

Sophomore efforts can make a band sink or swim – the latest from New Medicine is more of the latter.  Title track “Breaking The Model” is full of attitude and swagger, and is the perfect launch for this disc.  The vocals are strong, as is the guitar work.  The rhythm section perfectly anchors this track and gives the disc direction.  “Desire Into Gold” gives the disc a twist in sound with a cool intro that includes sound effects, but the heavier vibe during the chorus gives this track an almost industrial feel.  “Broken Girl” features a chugging groove and tempo that morphs into a cool pop-punk song that has a catchy chorus and rhythm.  “World Class Fuck Up” comes out of the chute loaded with piss and vinegar, from the lyrics to the chugging guitars and heavy bottom end.  The songs pop feel morphs quickly into an anthemic feeling track that will get hands in the air while heads move and feet tap to keep the party rhythm of this track going.  “Like A Rose” opens with a thumping bass line and some cool synth noises that are soon joined by the vocals and a guitar riff that is one of the better on the disc.  The drums drop in and help to make this another of the stronger tracks on the disc.

“One Too Many” is a bit poppier than other tracks on the disc, but it is a nice addition that seems to add a shot of something extra into the track list and flow of the disc.  “All About Me” is a slow tempo track that comes across with a ballad feel, but the lyrics and emotion of the vocals keeps you on edge and gives more of an introspective feeling when the song moves through the ebbing vocals and guitars.  “Dead Love Song” is another slower track that doesn’t quite get the blood flowing from the beginning, but nicely turns into a cool track that has different textures as the song moves from chorus to verse and back again.  “Heart With Your Name On It” is a cool tune that has punk attitude that wraps nicely around the rock riffs and the pop groove.  The guitars mix nicely with the vocals, whereas the bass and drums slide along for the ride without drawing any attention to themselves.  “Fire Up The Night” is a track that wraps all of the different facets of the disc into one cool package, with a total pop/punk/rock feel that should come across nicely live.  Disc closer “Boy Like Me” adds a different dimension to the disc and the band.  The song, while mid-tempo in feel, has big sounds in the chorus and bridge that give this song teeth.

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Category: CD Reviews