Bias

I don't know if I should be reviewing music at all... I like a wide variety of it, from pop to rock's too many genre... and while I listen to Flatfoot 56 or Yorkshire rats, and its like falling in love anew over the Clash...

I mean, if I had been a musician, I'm sure I'd be playing punk rock. Ei, oi... oi...oi, yeeeaah.

The energy, how a few guitar strumms, rants and angst, and a few words could produce music and reveal passion just amaze and lit me up... like no other genre...

But then again, I guess I'll just keep on reviewing everything. It's fun and I like it the way it is... rock on!

Guilt by Association

J.D. Bouck - vocals / guitar Adrian Boisclair - guitar Britt Bouck - bass / vocals Ryan Griffith - drums

Guilt by association started with J.D. and Britt, a singer/guitarist brother and bassist sister duo. They claim to be tired of listening to the less than genuine bands that filled the airways in the summer of 2000, so they decided to make their own blend of metal, rock, and hardcore. And concocted a sound they call their own: rockcore. Drummer Ryan Griffith and guitarist Adrian Boisclair completed the lineup.

JD says, “It takes a certain type of person to tour and write and constantly go in and out of the studio. We truly feel we are all partners in crime.”

Their site said they built a fan base, dubbed the Inmates, from their hometown of Chatsworth, California to across the U.S. and beyond. Guilt by association’s live performance was hailed as the weapon to take them to the grand court of rockstardom, though “it takes as much of a physical toll on the band as it does on the listener and their senses.”

“It’s very exhilarating to hear the crowd screaming your name,” says Griffith, “You kind of want to run and hide but you definitely don't want them to stop.” The band has earned respect while sharing the stage with Motorhead to A Static Lullaby, Skid Row to Dillinger Escape Plan.

Here's a stumbling of one of the band's members:

rockstarp: how are you?
rp: you're cute
m: tnx
rp: where are u from?
m: phils
rp: cool.
m: haha!
rp: do u want to c2c?
m: no
rp: well i c u!
rp: (smile)
rp: do u c me?
m: ya
m: u play music?
rp: yes
rp: i play guitar
rp: do u like guitar her?
rp: *do you like guitar?
m: yea
m: of course
rp: do you play?
m: no
m: i wrote words
rp: oh that's awesome
m: what d'u play? emo, alt, grunge?
rp: hmm...metalcore/rock emo
rp: how old r u?
m: 104
rp: 104??
m: i see ur guitar
rp: lol yay!
m: i dont like emo
rp: i like all music. as long as it has instruments
rp: do u like tattoos?
m: just lookin. i dont wanna get hurt
rp: hehe
rp: i have a few
m: its ok
m: where d'u play?
rp: everywhere...
rp: http://myspace.com/gba
rp: that's my band
m: what's gba?
rp: guilt by association
m: what's that, accessory 2 d crime? lol
rp: yes lol
rp: hehe
m: i'd listen sometime
m: u had samplers in there?
rp: we're very well known
m: really? u'r signed?
rp: yes
rp: i just come on here when i'm really bored
m: indie or major?
rp: indie. we play with bands like Adema, Dilinger Escape Plan, Drowning Pool, Fear Factory, Saliva...heavy rock bands
m: only heard of fear factory
m: i was like stuck a decade
rp: can u see me still?
m: ya
m: was that a map or sumthin? lol
rp: it's a heart
m: i c
rp: and i got a new one...
m: cool
rp: u likes?
m: haha
rp: who are u with?
m: no 1
rp: oh
rp: u r sexy
m: me?
rp: yeah
m: lol
rp: do u ever come to us?
m: no plan yet
rp: i know many people that live here that are from Philippines
m: yeah, its all over
m: Filipinos
rp: lol
m: ei
rp: can i see the restof u?
m: u mean stand?
rp: yes and turn
m: wait
rp: nice butt lol
m: hev u released an album?
rp: yes
rp: amazon.com
rp: you should buy it
m: k, i'l check
m: but u'r probably kidding
rp: go to amazon.com and search for guilt by association
rp: the name of the cd is called Living In Silence
m: i c
rp: did u find it?
m: wait
m: u'r not in d pic
rp: yes i am!
rp: lol
rp: which pic are u looking at?
rp: that's not my band!
rp: just go to http://guiltbyassociation.com
rp: whats ur name?
rp: adrian
m: ok
m: guess i'll just hev 2 review ur album
m: nice meeting u tho
rp: yeah
rp: remember
rp: www.guiltbyassociation.com
rp: it's that simple
rp: why don't u just listen to me and check it out?
m: u'd sing?
m: lol
rp: yes
m: k
m: i'd turn my speaker on
rp: i have to go to sleep
m: k bye
rp: good night sweetie!

The review: In fairness, I only get to hear the sampler from amazon.com. I am not such a fan of heavy rock, metal, core, whatsoever, but I always appreciate melody evident in Waste Away, Whisper, Better Off, Starve Me, hidden beneath slashing guitars and hooks with mellow interludes. Angry vocals and punishing drives are evident in Living in Silence, Liar, Safe Inside and Sleep.

These are all the ingredients we’d get from Living in Silence’ 9 cuts. Either they are mixed altogether, a sampling per a few seconds of seduction, passion, and anger, or you’re on a ride that won’t hurt the ears at all. I mean, yes, we've been served these improvements before, and they just keep on improving and evolving, and we, non-heavy rock listeners could only be thankful.

It just amazes me how they could have passed up an opportunity to showcase Britt Bouck's vocal prowess. Either they did, or I simply missed it. But it just would keep bothering me until I'd have a chance to listen to the whole album.