one of us! one of us! - john
At a young age- Texas native John Congleton was diagnosed with having panic attacks. He was prescribed medication but ultimately neglected to take it and instead opted to get his unnerving flusters of panic out creatively through music. The result has been the band the Paper Chase , and one reason why I am proud to be a Texan.
The paranoia, anxiety, tension and stress of the Paper Chase has already brought us three full lengths and a handful of ep’s and splits. But with this album, Now You Are One of Us, a double edged sword of experimentalism and likeability is unsheathed with the angular guitar and far away screaming vocals of previous works and a greater, more experienced grasp of melody. God Bless Your Black Heart had songs that were- dare I say -pop?
Let me clarify: chaos-pop, the bastard cousin of bubblegum-pop. This album like the last, is on Kill Rock Stars records where the band has clearly grown and evolved from the early days. They sound tighter than ever and are able to change direction of a song in the time it takes a zombie to eat your brains and turn you into “one of them.” The development of the group’s use of the samples has been steadily growing over the years. Here we hear an operatic female voice as a main sample, which is simultaneously creepy and beautiful. Whereas the last album left the listener cheerless (while at the same time humming all the songs), Now You Are One of Us leaves the listener energized and thinking. Thinking about the metaphors and analogies presented... then second guessing them.
This album has all the dark lyrics we have come to know and love from the Paper Chase but less personal glimpses into the character’s domestic life and more of an overall concept of science fiction or horror. The same bizarre noises can be found on this album… the knocking, the squeaking, the cries for help. The rhythm section seems more reserved than past albums leaving the stage to be even more set for Congelton’s vocals and guitar wackiness. This is not to say that they are not talented musicians in all spectrums. Because they are. The controlled chaos of the Paper Chase is still here.
Unlike past records that seemed to flow in movements, this one has stand alone songs. Albeit they are all tied together as a sort of musical version of a George Romero movie.
Producer/ guitarist/ singer John Congleton knows what he is doing. Listen to this record and try to tell me he is not a genius. Listen to this record and try not to want to play the whole thing. Listen to this record and try not to think that you could use some anti-depressants yourself and maybe a chainsaw attached to your hand in case one of “them” comes for you. This is biggest sounding and most interesting album I have heard in a long time. (It should be noted though- you probably could have found me two years ago saying the same thing about God Bless Your Black Heart.)
All images taken at an acoustic in studio performance at KVRX in 2004 by John Gross.
Please, support the hell out of the Paper Chase.
We Know Where you Sleep