Pretty.Distorted.Noise.
'Lanterns lists the “flux capacitator†as their major influence, but in their blog they admit they’re listening to Les Savy Fav—a much less creative influence, but more appropriate. Like Fav, this is distorted, epic indie-rock with guitars that stab like pine needles through a cheap T-shirt. In the middle of a swarm of warped guitars, the vocals on “Sweet Weapons†are shouted, occasionally in frantic harmony, not unlike a more aggressive Q and Not U or fellow San Diego band The North Atlantic. “Birds and Matches†is their idea of a ballad—which is a whole lot noisier than, say, Richard Marx. It leads with a low-toned guitar and bass line and epic guitars that sound like some sort of warped alarm at a top-secret government agency.
The band recently finished a U.S. tour to support a split 12-inch with fellow San Diego punk band This Flood Covers the Earth, which was put out on Boston indie label History Major Records. They’ve also got a video of them playing live in Duluth, Minn. On it, they sound like a band playing behind a wall in a room that’s completely submerged in water.
Regardless, the music is good and these guys tour—an essential exercise for any band that wants to go a little bit further than playing a Communist vegan benefit show at the Che Café. Like they readily boast in their “About†section, they’re “galvanizing audiences everywhere.†'
—Troy Johnson//San Diego CityBEAT
10-25-06
