One Small Step For Landmines - One Small Step For Landmines

by Lisa Holmes

Stepping out in style

"...Landmines have been slowly garnering strong indie credentials and backroom support. They are a prime example of how to promote joy and quality in pop music, two somewhat essential qualities all too often forgotten."

If you are going to do pop rock you damn well better do it justice, and with a big dollop of class. Thankfully …Landmines appear to have been fully aware of this most fundamental rule – unlike the vast majority of pretenders to the throne.

Musically this upbeat trio are aligning themselves with the Jimmy Eat World’s of this, erm, world. There is plenty of luscious, multi-layered, uplifting pop on offer, and whilst that in itself is nothing particularly remarkable there is a distinct lack of emo whine, and the band actually sound like they are enjoying themselves and in a non-ironic way.

Made up of three Tallahassee natives, vocalist Kevin Allen, Drummer August Hansen and Bassist Steve Leacock, ...Landmines may have an appalling name, a small step on a landmine equals a giant leap perhaps? But with songs as strong as album opener ‘I Don’t Think’ and the strangely optimistic ‘Everything Alright’ which contains the lyric “We’ll be together when we die / And you’ve got to admit that’s a pretty good method.” They have hit upon a winning formula.

Signed in America by Sparta’s Jim Ward to his Doghouse label, and with guest trombonist Matt Agrella of Look Mexico featuring on the record, ...Landmines have been slowly garnering strong indie credentials and backroom support. They are a prime example of how to promote joy and quality in pop music, two somewhat essential qualities all too often forgotten.

This album isn’t boring and it’s not cheesy, there isn’t even a floppy fringe or blunt haircut amongst the band members; so let’s go to town with the landmines, it’s a step in the right direction. (Ouch! - Pun Ed)

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