Audio By Carbonatix
Advertising Can't Do It Alone
The challenges facing local news organizations are very real. That's why reader support matters more than ever. If you believe independent journalism matters, make a contribution today and help us reach our summer fundraising goal of $10,000 by August 9.
Dropped by Epic following the disastrously overproduced Love, The Juliana Theory comes out swinging with Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat, an unapologetically white-knuckled take on its trademark emo-punk. Vocalist/songwriter Brett Detar has clearly been listening to his Guns N’ Roses records: Booming drum fills and snarling vocal turns abound. The guitars swarm and buzz on tracks like “French Kiss-Off” and “Shotgun Serenade,” giving the Pittsburgh band a menacing edge that was previously lacking. On the most superficial level, Deadbeat is a success — delivering the group from emo’s syrupy stylistic trappings. However, even the band’s heaviest sonic swipes can’t distract from weak underlying hooks and occasionally embarrassing lyrics (“I know it’s you I can’t forget/Bang bang shoot shoot”). The Juliana Theory’s newfound might is all surface, no depth.
