Search - Rival Schools United, Onelinedrawing :: Split Release

New and Improved! Now with 50% Less Metal!

usualchannels | Northampton, MA United States | 08/11/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Now I know that this Jonah dude from Onelinedrawing might have had something to do with this (and God bless his emo, Pavement loving tucas if he did), but Rival Schools (featuring Walter Schrieffels -- ex-Quicksand and Gorilla Biscuits, with various other NYHC alumni) have taken Quicksand's attempts at unusual production and groove-heavy rock with understated hip-hop inflections, left out most of the silly heavy metal sonics, and come out with a record of humble, entertaining post-hardcore--just like we always wished he would. Most NYHC fans have always known that Walter was the scene's best songwriter, and it's nice to see melodicism and DC-style roots take precedence over guitar solos on this outing. Jonah of Onelinedrawing (who, according to the Some Records website, sings two of the six songs on this CD, backed by R.S.), is a little heavy-handed in the vocals department, often sounding like a pretentious and over-wraught Steven Malkmus, but even his songs are usually saved by spare but inventive production techniques that rely on shifting dynamics for variety. If you like New York post-hardcore like Quicksand, Supertouch or Eventide, if you dig DC groups like Lungfish and Soul Side, or even if you're a young pup getting off on all that new tripe everyone's pushing as "emo" lately, you should pick this up. As a step forward for Schrieffels, it couldn't sound more right--he's not reinventing himself, but not exactly treading water either. What more could you ask of him? Techno blips? Another Quicksand reunion?"

Pretty good

Gogol | England | 09/03/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"
Pretty good this from Rival Schools and One line drawing. Rival school tracks are very similar to their album while the One Line Drawing stuff is a little heavier than their album. As another reviewer put it, the whole thing does have a little 'free jazz' feel to it especially 'take one for the team'



Good guitar work from both bands but I feel the vocals on Rival Schools get a little drowned out at times.



Not a bad little CD. A little short thought so you may want to think about how much you are willing to pay for it."