Review: Item 9 – “Half Sick of Shadows”

ARTIST: ITEM 9

ALBUM: “HALF SICK OF SHADOWS”

LABEL: LEVERAGE RECORDS

RELEASE DATE: MAY 31, 2013

RATING: 7/10

Item 9 provides listeners with a fun album that is chock full of solid riffs, catchy choruses, and nice musicianship on Half Sick of Shadows.

            Half Sick of Shadows is an album reminiscent of The Wonder Years and The Story So Far, but there is an edge to it that is not present in the other bands. The album is a perfect length, going by quickly, but not so fast as to be a blur or so slow that the listener feels bored by the end of each song.

The production of Half Sick of Shadows does Item 9 justice. The vocals sound great; the cleans are very clear, and the occasional screams sound heavy, yet understandable. The lead guitars have a nice shimmer to them, and the rhythms pack plenty of crunch. The rhythm section thumps along nicely and is a nice complement to the vocals and guitars.

The highlight of the album is “Come and Take It,’ which features the heaviest riff to be found on the album, along with some tight soloing and a pleasant interlude. “Easy to Pretend” is the slowest song on Half Sick of Shadows, and it complements the rest of the album nicely; the lyrics lament the singer’s woes, and the acoustic guitar leading into a slow, shimmery power chord romp makes for a very strong ballad.

Overall, Half Sick of Shadows is a very good album. It shimmers and crunches in all of the right places, and the songs are catchy and well written. For any fan of pop punk, Item 9’s Half Sick of Shadows is a must listen.