First, the cynical part of that ‘thing’ got all stirred up about at the ‘funky’ guitar, the emotionally supportive lyrics, the pulsing bass, the in-your-face, contrasting structure.
Then the part of the thing that likes dancing and listening to ‘Be My Girl’ slapped the cynical part of the thing in its ugly little face and I think it was about here that I decided to make this album the soundtrack on the road trip it makes me want to go on. Listen to this album in the right frame of mind and you’ll have fun. Maybe more than you and your thing can handle.
The Gifted Program is the second effort from Seattle four-piece The Divorce. It takes you on a super fun trip to emo-rock town complete with danceable rock songs about parties (Cash Machine), big, sad, reverb-drenched songs about hearts (Doctors and Friends) and even a song or two about haters (Birds=Magic)!
If it’s comparisons you want, then let’s think Hot Hot Heat going to a kegger with Sum 41 at Good Charlotte’s house. And just like their frat buddies Good Charlotte, The Divorce really do know how to play their instruments, which unfortunately contributes to the over-produced sound of the record; the production is maybe a bit over the top and I think this album might have benefited had they’d taken some of the soap out of the production bag and chucked in some dead cats or dirt.
And so if, after all the Good Charlotte/Sum 41 comparisons, you’re still unsure about The Divorce, let me put it this way: it’s the kind of music that, in three years time, will have you rushing, squealing with nostalgic glee to the dance floor because it reminds you and your friends of those great times you had in the summer of 2006. I say if you don’t own at least one album that sounds like ‘The Gifted Program’, then you’re part of the problem.
