And Then There Were None integrates styles to create eclectic sound
October 17, 2011
What do you get when you mix euro-dance, trance, punk and alternative rock together? The correct answer is And Then There Were None (ATTWN)—and we’re not taking about the Agatha Christie’s novel.
ATTWN started out as a metalcore band almost 10 years ago, before morphing its genre into an eclectic hybrid of influences. Somehow this band from New Hampshire has seamlessly integrated unrelated styles into a crisp, fresh sound.
Their sole album exhibiting this new genre, “Who Speaks for Planet Earth?” is a fantastic endeavor from start to finish.
The disc’s first true song, (“Murmurs Of..” is a 30 second lead-in that doesn’t count) “John Orr the Arsonist” sets the tone for what is to come: Music that wants to make you dance combined with brilliant lyrics.
For instance, “The Hospital” is an upbeat track with touching lyrics. The song is about wanting to bring back a loved one at all costs.
From the looks of it, Matt Rhodes, the lead singer/songwriter, penned the song to describe the relationship he has with his father. The song is a flexible one, though, and can be relatable on many levels.
“Reinventing Robert Cohn,” “Action is the Anecdote,” “The Atmosphere” and “The Alamo” are also top-notch tracks spattered throughout the album.
The overall best song though, is “Thank the Watchmaker.” Combined with the mind-blowing beat, more excellent lyrics are displayed. It is about having the resolve to carry on a long distance relationship and the struggles that go with it.
“Your pictures are the paper that lines my wall/ I’m waiting for the moment you come back” aptly describes the sentiment of the song.
And to cap it off, ATTWN pays tribute to Richard Marx, performing an excellent cover of “Right Here Waiting.”
Nothing is left wanting on this album.
It is doubtful that ATTWN will continue to make music, as Rhodes recently went on hiatus to pursue a side project. However, “Who Speaks for Planet Earth?” is a stand-alone work of greatness with a unique mash-up style.