May 08 2008 2:43 pm,
Eastern Conference Champions
‘Ameritown’
(Suretone/Interscope)
Owen Morris produced this debut album from Pennsylvanian trio Eastern Conference Champions, but don’t let that put you off. Although occasionally sounding like Starsailor trying to cover Nirvana (‘Single Sedative’) ECC are a more experimental proposition than the acts Morris is most well known for working alongside (Oasis, The View). Choice tracks ‘The Box’ and ‘Ameritown’ (respectively, the first and last tracks on this album) would beat those bands to a pulp with their full-on, Corgan-esque melodrama. Sometimes, the approach is hugely effective. ‘I fucked your girlfriend ‘cause I wanted to feel numb,’ confesses Josh Ostrander and although, let’s face it, he probably had other motives too, there’s no denying the chill-provoking sentiment. Equally there’s no arguing with the fact that Ostrander’s whiny vocal can be grating, but on songs like ‘Navyman’ (the musical equivalent of a barroom brawl) he tones it down, and the results are interesting.
