The music has to have a biblical Christian message. If the message isn't obvious, the artists have to show they're Christian and their message can't promote worldliness. I listen to the music, then write the review as I call it. The artists or promoters get a chance to preview the article, and offer suggestions as they see fit. (Some have even asked that I don't publish the review, but that's pretty rare.) I won't state something I don't believe just because someone sent me a free CD, nor because an artist or promoter was offended by what I wrote the first time. Hmm, I feel an article coming on about how I write reviews, but it's not to be here.
A couple months back, Razor and Tie Records contacted me and asked if I could do a review. I checked out the band a bit and asked a few questions and agreed to do it. Their offer to send me a CD helped, too.
I got all ready to get a new CD in the mail. It didn't come and didn't come, so I e-mailed Razor and Tie to ask if they had second thoughts about the review. It turns out that the first agent I talked to no longer worked at the record company, but that they were interested and would get a CD sent out to me. In the meantime, while browsing a hard-copy of HM, I stumbled across the same band: The Chemistry.
I'd describe The Chemistry as punk-emo-alternative, but without the "screamo" that's so often associated with emo. The instrumentals are heavy but not noise like with lots of other heavier styles. The "emo" comes from the vocals which sound like on the verge of crying, or almost a loud, melodic pout.
The Chemistry is being marketted as simply a band, without the "Christian" qualifier. Their message is rather ambiguous, but spirituality can be detected if you're listening for it. It's good music for a mixed crowd of saved and resistant teens.
When I listen to The Chemistry, I picture a bunch of jumping and head-thrashing kids right in front of the stage. It's sort of white-noisy at times, but I think it's written to be loud and not comforting. As I scanned the imaginary crowd, I realized The Chemistry's sound came across to me as distinctly non-urban. I just couldn't picture lots of inner-city kids in the mosh pit. Maybe that's the case with most punk/emo stuff. It's a bit intense for me, but hey, I'm almost 50.
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