Album Review // Vices // Neighbor Dan (Split LP)

Chumpire

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s when CDs and filesharing applications (Napster, Limewire, etc.) were the most popular methods of getting your music, vinyl records took a backseat, with only the underground scene keeping that medium alive. In doing so, many indie, punk, and hardcore acts were releasing split LPs, featuring four or five songs by two different artists, typically taking up one side each. Erie's newest Indie rock four piece Vices released their debut album To All Those Who Do Not Exist Yet… on one side, while emo post-punk/metal act Neighbor Dan (featuring members that live in Pennsylvania and Ohio) are on the other side with their Compositions From God's Grey Earth. The two bands are stylistically different, but are both rooted in the underground ethos, including some of the same influences. While Vices tends towards the melodic with their catchy lyrics and energetic rhythms (stand out tracks include "He/Said" and "Best Wishes"), Neighbor Dan leans into hardcore and metal with throaty vocal deliveries, angular rhythms, and prog breakdowns. Tracks like "The Ol' Clothes Horse" and "Hidden a Mouse" are a perfect blend of the old and new styles.