...Can Cite Scripture – Minor nuances and several other noises...

The omens for ...Can Cite Scripture were not good. Firstly, there was their name. Then there was the name of their EP. (Somebody should really tell them that they’ve got their dot-dot-dots at the wrong ends.) On top of all that was the extensive reading material that came with it, which made the further mistake of letting me know that they’re unsigned. Now, I am well aware that many music connoisseurs enjoy sifting through the hordes of unsigned garbage in off-chance of finding those rare gems, but allow me to let you in on a not-so-secret-secret... record labels are not stupid. No, generally if a band is unsigned it’s for a reason. That reason is simple: that they’re rubbish. If ...Can Cite Scripture (and I’m not sure how many more times I can bring myself to write their name) ever do get signed however, I’m sure those nice types in suits will tactfully let them know that the identification of their musical themes as “isolation, longing, escapism, love, tragedy and disgust” is best kept to the fan-mailing list. All this before even listening to the CD. Oh dear.

But listen I did. And here are my thoughts as they happened.  ‘Smashing Pumpkins. Oh no, more Heatmiser, (which is Elliott Smith’s little known but brilliant grunge band), oh no... hang on, what’re they called again... Oh yes: Placebo.’ Yes, they sound like Placebo. Placebo mixed with Manic Street Preachers. Yes, that’s exactly what they sound like. I could bandy about other names if you’d like, but I guess me throwing ‘Nickelback’ around isn’t going to help anyone. Don’t get me wrong, ...Can Cite Scripture (last time, I promise) aren’t bad. In fact, if I were feeling particularly angsty I would be tempted to call them ‘good’. But it’s not my thing. But if it was... but it’s just not. And I guess at the end of the day, they just can’t escape the fact that their promotional readings are now blu-tacked to my wall alongside a post-it-note reading, ‘Remember not to be a twat...’

Ben Lawrence

Check ...Can Cite Scripture (bugger) out at: www.myspace.com/cancitescripture