 Sense Field Living Outside
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Running threads of straight-up alt-rock and '80s New Wave (think Tears for Fears) through modern-day emo sounds, Sense Field create intense, undeniably cool music that will probably never get huge airplay but works well with the lights turned low.
Sense Field add a whole new dimension to post-emo on their fifth album, the Southern California band's first since tasting mainstream success with "Save Yourself," a radio hit thanks to its featured spot on the TV series Roswell. From the dramatic, tinkling piano that opens "Burn" (and the album) to the string-heavy, polished synth-pop of "I Refuse," it's obvious that Living Outside is the band's attempt to be "ambitious." They Read More mostly succeed, too. Their punk and indie roots are still very much evident in the buzz-saw crunch of "Take What You Want," "Memory" and "Haunted," as well as in singer Jon Bunch's alienated lyrics. But all things Eighties are currently in vogue, and Sense Field occasionally approach Duran Duran-ish arena rock, even covering the Cure's "A Letter to Eloise," just in case you missed the references. In the end, it's all at least as powerful as the Foo Fighters. BILL HOLDSHIP (July 21, 2003)
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