Dave's Take: Today's band Diffuser is a lost modern rock treasure from early 2001. These New York natives released a second album after which got a little bit more corporate attention than this album but that album also got lost in the punk-pop shuffle even though their sound was clearly different from the Sum 41and Blink182's of the world, at least on this first album. They have indie rock stylings with real rock sensibilities with the ability to create an addicting pop tune. The production is great as well, as the masterful Don gilmore (Linkin park, Eve 6, Lit, etc) worked his magic on this album. The true magic in this album was the overlapping of melody with discordance. Unfortunately this band decided to call it quits after their second album. Another review from the web sums up this album perfectly
" Browsing through your dictionary of innovative rock bands you can find Diffuser somewhere between pop culture and dissonance. Their major label debut Injury Loves Melody is a trademark of the band's ability to write honest, angular pieces of pure imaginative music while upholding strong conviction in their delivery. This album will take you on an emotional roller coaster through confusion, angst, and heartbreak."
"I am" and "Tidal" start the album off and set the trademark sound for the album: Very intriguing quick paces lyrics such as these from Tidal:
"Drink me like a dixie cup
And throw me out with all the used love
You think you might finally had enough
I don't think you're ordinary
Hopefully not temporary
Quicksand is the water i am treading
Here come the shakes
Nothing is faded
Another tidal wave of love has crashed on me"
are backed by a combination of of one dissonant rhythm guitar accompanied and one melodic solo guitar always blending together perfectly. The third track on the album was the first and only single "Karma" a perfect modern rock by the numbers song where the lead singer says
"Sometimes you get you what you want
sometimes you get need
but you always get what you deserve"
"Tell her This" is one of two ballad type songs on the album with its slow verses and interesting lyrics
"Tell her this
I don't dare to twist
I ran through a confident fist
Tell her that
The gypsy was real
December is what makes the toe cramps and stomachaches
Hard to heal
And it don't mean a thing
If you can't try to be
But you're always expecting from me
Tell her this
I'll never be rich
And Christmas was always a bitch"
"Losers of the Year" takes a a few listens to truly appreciate its true indie sounding goodness with its slow whispering choruses
"Made some bad mistakes
Those are the breaks
I got a patriot high
With some symbolic quakes
Can't see the sun spots, through the domestic haze
Can't hide the makeup, cause you never can see, never can breathe"
which then bursts into a full angst ridden shout: "Want out We all want out" over surprisingly good sounding discordant guitars :
"Leaving with a California Tilt" which is about a girl leaving for California as the obvious title suggests has one of the cooler choruses on the album in terms of pure guitar work which works with the rather simple lyrics.
If I could pick one song on the album that represents how great Diffuser is both from a lyrical and musical perspective it would be "The way That I feel." Check out these cool lyrics:
Raising stakes in the race, selling out so you don't get sold
Something for nothing hasn't been left for me
Tear away everything and I'm wearing memories
Take a chance on a chance, try leapfrog with a unicorn
Figure out when to shout when you sit on a corporate thorn
I bet you sleep tight every night wondering
If the one you've become is what you hated
The more i gave, the more you take
Why can't you stay?
Chorus
What should I do (my time is wasted)
Now that we're through (my time is wasted)
One thing is true
the way that I feel for youuuuuuu
Yea! have a drink on the fink 'till we kill off the disco fad
Fuzzy dice mixed with ice, give it up for the other man
I'm getting cold shakes from the state that I'm in
Your getting colder, I'm getting older
Stop the landslide
The more i gave, the more you take"
The album rounds out with "Last Time I saw Memphis" "35" and "I Don't have the Nerve" definitely have that indie rock feel to them.
Diffuser came out with a second album called "Making the Grade" which had much more of a pop-rock sound to it but did not come close to matching this amazing debut.
MY RATING: 8/10 (Some songs are skippable but most grow on you the more you listen)
SOUNDS LIKE: SUGARCULT, MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK, ANBERLIN, BLINK 182, THURSDAY
SONG SAMPLES:
1. I Am
Listen
2.Tidal
Listen
3. Karma
Listen
4. Tell Her This
Listen
5. Wide Eyes (Photograph So Well)
Listen
6. Losers Of The Year
Listen
7. Leaving With A California Tilt
Listen
8. The Way That I Feel
Listen
9. Last Time I Saw Memphis
Listen
10. 35
Listen
11. I Don't Have The Nerve
Listen
BAND MEMBERS:
Tomas Costanza (guitar/vocals)
Lawrence Sullivan (bass)
Billy Alemaghides (drums)
Anthony Cangelosi (guitar)
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