Albums•November 29, 2011•5,477 views

Cru Jones The Conversation

01. Untitled 02. Lights Out 03. Love: A Roadside View 04. Eyes Wide Fist Tight 05. Fletch Versus Foley 06. The Conversation 07. Our Last Effort To Save You 08. 1024 by 823 09. Only Great War 10. Hit The Deck 11. Straight On Til Morning
2005 Undecided Records
Our score 5
by Cory
7/6/2005
Someone promoting Cru Jones would like you to believe that their music somehow bears a semblance to "Elvis Costello fronting the Bad Brains or Morrissey singing with Fugazi" or even to Coalesce, according to their press release. Apparently whoever writes these things has never heard any of the above bands, as all but Fugazi are quite a stretch. The most accurate comparison that I could think of was: "sounds pretty much like the new Underoath album." With that misconception out of the way, I was able to immerse myself in Cru Jones' debut album, The Conversation. The second minor obstacle to my enjoyment of this disc was the lyrics. Since the majority of the vocals on this disc are sort of a throaty melodic yell, I had to hear most of what vocalist Terry Bloom was saying and I found myself wishing I hadn't. Misleading song titles, like "Fletch Versus Foley," guided me to believe I might at least be hearing something amusing or interesting relating to an all-out brawl between these two legendary comedic characters, but alas, I was instead serenaded by syrupy recollections of lost love. These guys need to stop trying to fool themselves and everyone else. This is emo or post-rock or whatever they're calling it these days and there's no getting around it. All things considered, I did find The Conversation to be a praiseworthy debut. The guitar work on this record is relatively top-notch. It's not that it's particularly original or even that complex, but it all sounds damn good in the context of the record. In fact, most of the instrumentation on The Conversation is miles beyond most of their peers. The entire record is full of engaging songwriting, drawing me in against my will. At times approaching the genuine goodness of successful contemporaries like Silent Drive and Time In Malta, Cru Jones really just lacks a definitive voice in every sense of the word. Lyrically, they don't really have anything new or powerful to say and the style of the vocals doesn't do anything for me at all. Bottom Line: Cru Jones have released a relatively enjoyable record full of catchy hooks and solid musicianship. If you're in the market for a rock record low on musical cheese (but partially made up for in lyrical corniness) you might want to check out Cru Jones.

17 comments

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xcowabungax_ 7/6/2005 3:17:53 PM

first post

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Lambgay_ 7/6/2005 3:19:16 PM

2nd post

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perfectpatientADHDkid_ 7/6/2005 3:19:41 PM

these dudes play around here all the time. are alright

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justin_ 7/6/2005 3:56:17 PM

good dudes. check out this record

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KdWdl_ 7/6/2005 4:09:36 PM

another band with the name "Jones" in it

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aserpentfofmary_ 7/6/2005 5:50:36 PM

sounds pretty much like the new Underoath album." this makes not want to touch this cd ..cause Uneroath is complete shit , but then again I like grind ...but still Underoath ...I would rather go drink blech then hear there sappy songs ......I hope Cru Jones are cool guys like this other people say and find another influence..may they can play some bad brains like the press release says ..that would rock

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XOmeletX_ 7/6/2005 5:52:32 PM

/\/\/\/\ What the f*ck is that supposed to mean gay?

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Trey_ 7/6/2005 8:07:37 PM

Dear Lambgoat, Cory is one of the worst reviewers on your already mediocre staff. What a horrible review. All this gay does is contradict himself.

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mark_ 7/6/2005 10:26:34 PM

something kind of funny, i'm not sure who wrote that description about the band ("Elvis Costello fronting the Bad Brains or Morrissey singing with Fugazi"), but i could swear i remember reading that description somewhere about Glassjaw, like in a review or article. it must be getting pretty bad when bands don't just rip off other bands' sound, they rip off other bands' press too..

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yeah_ 7/6/2005 11:10:50 PM

"It's not that it's particularly original or even that complex, but it all sounds damn good in the context of the record. In fact, most of the instrumentation on The Conversation is miles beyond most of their peers. " No clever joke needed here. Cory is a moron.

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ghetto_paul_ 7/7/2005 8:41:06 AM

this review makes ALMOST no sense at all, as other above have pointed out. come on cory, you can do better than that.

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zero_x_potential_ 7/7/2005 3:51:57 PM

i bought their demo a year or two ago at a show becuase they were nice dudes and had nice good stage presence. it's decent, but i forgot about it until now. maybe i'll check this out.

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XEVANX_ 7/8/2005 10:14:18 AM

this band ripped off casey jones and hank jones with their gay cru jones...... gays

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dave_ 7/8/2005 6:40:50 PM

hahaha I think your right.. I remember reading this description somewhere about Glassjaw (or at least very similiar) "Elvis Costello fronting the Bad Brains or Morrissey singing with Fugazi"

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zero_x_potential_ 7/11/2005 12:35:35 PM

haha they really did steal it. look at this: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Glassjaw+Elvis+Costello+fronting+the+Bad+Brains+or+Morrissey+singing+with+Fugazi

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fashioncorefags_ 7/12/2005 11:59:52 AM

what an jerk. referring to the description of a band you think a band sounds like doesn't mean anything except the reviewer is too vapid to come up with a creative opinion of his own. eat shit cory. hire me.

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adw_ 7/15/2005 3:49:19 AM

i think it's alright... good breakdowns wake me up now and then......corny.....

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