For the first review of 2019, I’m actually going to retreat back to a release from 2018. It goes without saying that, in doing so, I am “making terrible time” at highlighting one of the best releases of last year from the band Making Incredible Time. Despite my latency, this is a great album that deserves some SDP attention!
Going back to June 2018, the band put out their full-length album titled Considering the Circumstances. Before having heard a single track, I was already drawn in by the cover art alone. Anyone who knows me or has played in one of my routine Texas Hold Em tournaments is fully aware that I’m sort of a poker nut. This unhealthy addiction has led to what feels like a lifetime of great parties and memories. As such, I’m easily attracted to green felt, chip stacks, a tumbler of whiskey, and the emotional energy from when someone pushes all-in. Metaphorically, I believe that is exactly what Making Incredible Time did on this release. They pushed all-in!
To temper the severity of what I mean by the previous statement, I’m not saying that the band member’s lives hang in the balance of this record. Rather, what I mean is: It is more than evident that the guys put a ton of time, hard work, and heart & soul into this album. It shows in the execution of every track. All of the instrumental components are layered tighter than a sailor’s best constrictor knot. In today’s world of music, such a description might lead one to think of replaced/triggered drum tracks and a bunch of artificially quantized WAV’s with no soul. One of the most brilliant aspects of this album is that it does not fall in to this trap…not even a little bit. The overall sound is refreshingly organic and I can’t say enough good things about it. A quick side bar: Studio and engineer match ups can have a massive impact on the outcome of an album. The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered over at El-Cajon-famous Doubletime Studios with Jeff Forrest. I have said it more than once. Jeff is a fantastic engineer! If you want to jump into the studio for a few short hours and hastily lay down a sketchy demo on a total budget, Jeff is your guy! At the same time, if you want to take your time and really piece together a sonically great album, Jeff is still your guy! …and when it comes to the realm of punk rock, few engineers know the genre better. In the case of MIT, this match up was damn near perfect with respect to the end result.
Capturing a ton of energy and attitude, MIT cranked out 12 tracks of which you would be hard pressed to find a single dud. Stylistically, I’d categorize the album as irreverent, crass, comedic pop-punk. With song titles like King Jack Off, and (Can’t Go) Back That Ass Up, the musical direction should be somewhat clear. While the lyricism is playful and often sarcastic, the delivery is never sloppy. Said another way, MIT took their brand of fun and made a serious recording out of it. The band does a fine job of encompassing all the dynamics (tempo changes, group chants, solos and other accents etc.) that separate a thoughtful group of musicians from a run-of-the-mill rat-pack just learning to strum guitars. As with many albums of this style, there is often a cover song included in the track listing. Considering the Circumstances is no exception. Moreover, the band’s choice of cover is one that I appreciate. Folsom Prison Blues is an iconic Johnny Cash song and MIT nails it on this one! In my mind, it’s merely one extra example to demonstrate that these guys know exactly what they are about and they execute it brilliantly. Pete, Brian, Tom…well done gents!
For fans of The Vandals, BigWig, Guttermouth, NOFX
4 out of 5 SDP skullz
Artist: Making Incredible Time
Album: Considering the Circumstances
Label: N/A
Release Date: June 30th, 2018
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Reviewed by Todd Dulawan
