Only Way To Be Alone - Good Old War

Rating - 6.3

A couple of weeks ago, a hundred students or so gathered in Hunt Union Ballroom [at SUNY Oneonta] for a concert that featured ex-Early November singer Ace Enders. And while the crowd certainly knew what to expect with Ace’s set (he played here about two years ago as well) it was the band that performed before Ace that proved most impressive.

The band, Good Old War, hails from Philadelphia and they have been one of the most exciting “new” bands to surface this year. I say “new” with a bit of implicitly; all summer they toured as the backing band to Circa Survive front man Anthony Green, they landed a spot on Last Call with Carson Daly, and have been getting support from independent radio stations and record stores from across the country for well over a year. The trio is comprised of two ex-members of successful post-emo outfit Days Away, and one from alt-country band Unlikely Cowboy, and surprisingly they’ve been able to create a totally new sound, one which improves upon both former bands.

Good Old War’s debut record Only Way To Be Alone makes a point of showcasing the bands biggest strength: their incredible three part harmonies. With arrangements that strive for power over complexity, the vocals rise and fall in unison throughout the album, often above an upbeat acoustic guitar and shuffling snare drum. The album, however, finds its stride when the band deviates from this formula, such as the bluesy swagger of “Weak Man” (which features guest vocals from the aforementioned Anthony Green) or the Beatles-meet-Lily-Allen closer “Stay By My Side”.

If there is any criticism to bestow on GOW, its the lack of memorable lyrics. Singer Keith Goodwin spends most of the album making observations on the immediate world around him, including a rocky relationship, but always with a sense of optimism. Good lines come and go , the single “Coney Island” boasts “I counted 27 birds up there today/I’m thinking that’s why I still love it here”, but with musicianship and vocal harmonies this good, who needs lyrics? (11/3/08)