Self-released, 2007

A quintet from Seattle, The Kindness Kind’s influences range from AIR to Blonde Redhead to Chet Baker. Now, I would never think of how a prominent cool jazz influence could show through a decidedly alternative sound, but there is no doubt that it does. There are some unique and inspired tracks and a few not so inspired tracks. When the band uses unorthodox effects or an unexpectedly aggressive guitar, the album excels. Unfortunately, A Novel does not go in this direction nearly enough.

The album starts off strong, then changes into something a little more like a jazz lounge for a couple tracks before returning to a more atonal alternative sound. The change in sound breaks the flow of the album somewhat, but returns with “Roadmaps and Guidebooks”, the 9th track and the rest prove to be solid tracks. “Quiet Words Are Quiet Words”, the fourth track, is a great example of the jazz lounge sound. It is more the style of Frou Frou or KT Tunstall than Blonde Redhead. While I like Frou Frou and KT Tunstall, I simply couldn’t appreciate the softer style. “The Waiting Room’s” somber tone melds well with the powerful and mournful vocals, while a variety of instrumentation and odd sound effects create an interesting crescendo. The last track is a great mix of effects with a flowing melody behind it.

The diversity within proves that the band has skill, but the change in sound between the two extremes makes for a disjointed or uneven album. There are points I thought I was listening to an alternative jazz album and others times I thought I was listening to an avant-garde alternative rock band; as I listen it becomes clear it is both. This ability to seemingly be able to go back and forth shows the skill of the band and the lead vocalist Alessandra Rose, but does not save the album.

There is talent here, but there are several times the sound gets sloppy and seems to lose focus. Alessandra is able to keep the guitars in check with some good power (if a little monotone at times). I do appreciate the album overall, but this is a band that still need to find their “sound.” There were some memorable moments here, but, overall, A Novel does more to leave me curious about The Kindness Kind’s next album.

Immortal Records, 2007

Kill the Headlights, the 4th release from Adema and the first with Immortal Records, is one of the band’s strongest. The band’s sound is often compared to Korn, with good reason, the lead singer, Mark “Marky” Chavez, is the half brother of Korn’s Jonathon Davis. However, infighting and sagging sales caused Chavez to leave the band in 2004. The three remaining founding members, dropped by their label, started from scratch and moved on with a new vocalist. …and then another new vocalist. It seems they have finally found one who could fill the Chavez’s shoes as Bobby Reeves hits the mark with some solid writing and serious power.

This album glistens with several gems that make for one hell of a listen. There are some tracks that don’t measure up to the rest, but overall if you want to do some head banging, you could do much worse then “Kill the Headlights”. There are a bunch of tracks that thump, but the standouts for me are “What Doesn’t Kill Us”, a screamer of a track that talks about making mistakes and lost love, and “Open Til Midnight”, a rambling prose about a one night stand. There are a couple tracks that give you head a rest and appeal to the lighter side of things, such as “Los Angeles” and “Days Go By”. Of course, light does not mean Barry Manilow, more like, Trapt or Cold.

Adema has been able to consistently put out some of the best alternative-metal I have been able to get my hands on. With hard vocals, heavy drums, loud guitar, and everything else that goes with it, they are a stand out in a crowd. They have been largely overlooked since their debut album, which is unfortunate considering the kind of material they have been able to produce, even with all the lineup changes. Even more amazing is the sound is still evolutionary from the first album. Now they are clawing their way back to spotlight and if they keep doing what they are doing, there is no doubt they will make it.