Architects

If the Architects two previous albums, Keys to the Building and Revenge, were straight departures from their ska-punk beginnings as the band The Gadjits, then Vice sees the band relaxing their boundaries and letting in some influences outside the garage-rock aesthetic. Where everything before the Architects third record on Anodyne was heavy on the modern rock, drawing from sources such as early punk and sixties garage bands, this new release lets the band’s ska roots come through along with a touch of ’80s arena rock.

For example, on the song “Drop in the Bottle,” the ska brass has been replaced by hair metal guitar squeals and piercing riffs accompanied by an interesting juxtaposition of nihilistic lyrics (When you’re high like us/ you can be just like us/ I don’t wanna be just one more drop in the bottle) with a melodic chorus. Even on songs like “Daddy Wore Black” and “Pills,” the songs can remind one of third-wave ska, east-coast punk, or Cheap Trick all at the same time.

The only thing that brings all these songs together on one disc is the voice of lead singer Brandon Phillips. Sounding a bit like Buckcherry’s Josh Todd after a screaming match, his hoarse, one level cadence paces the varying sounds into a complete composition that allows the Architects to be modern rock without boring anyone. Plus, while the lyrics can be at times cliché, Phillips seems to play on this aesthetic with bits of nihilism and irony coated in real experiences that brings you closer to the story the are telling.

Mostly these nuances are lost on the big guitars and barroom choruses that are typical of Midwestern live bands. The band tours constantly and they seemingly cater their music to what the crowd responds to, which is not an easy task to complete without coming off fake. Still, the Architets have been doing this long enough to know when a series of solos in the middle of the song is appropriate (hence the inclusion of a radio edit of “Pills”) and when the breakdown needs a bit of harmonica, like on “Continental”. So while the disc is a bit tired after a few listens, I imagine their live shows keep them going and the people of Kansas City happy on a Saturday night.

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