12 RODS - Lost Time

I think I've tried to write this review probably 4 times now. I'll get about three-fourths done with it and upon re-reading my words I realize that everything I've said doesn't give this record justice. 12 Rods recorded this album on their own, in their own studio, printed it up on their own, and released it to the masses with no additional outside help. A fairly impressive feat for any band, but maybe even moreso for these Minneapolis natives seeing that they were also dealing with the fact that they were no longer welcome at V2 Records. Production wise, this album sounds cleaner, fuller, and more realized than any of their previous works. The songwriting is strong both musically and lyrically but beyond that.. they are damn catchy. Ryan Olcott has the ability to write lyrics that teeter on the edge of goofy right before returning back to some sort of triumphant insight (i.e. "Cause you're never to young to make a booty call, or tag a sign or a wall... or even make your enemies fall, fall fall" - "The Time is Right (To Be Wrong)"). The most interesting thing about this album isn't that it's completely self-produced but the manner in which the songs are arranged. Typically a rock band will arrange their tracks so that the more upbeat songs are towards the beginning of the album, to catch your attention and pull you in. Lost Time starts off with the slower songs ("Fake Magic 8-Ball", "Twenty Four Hours Ago") and gives mild teases of the forthcoming upbeat rock ("One Thing Does Not Belong"). The second half of the album is definetly more upbeat than the first with songs like "Telephone Holiday" and "Terrible Hands" but it's the overall build up that makes the whole record work together. Instead of starting loud and slowing down to a draining stop, Lost Time slowly pulls you in and makes you experience the whole album, instead of what may be thought of as the next potential single. So maybe this review doesn't do the album any more justice than the previous 3 that I've written but at least it gets the word out that 12 Rods have recorded a new album, it's ready for consumption, and it's well worth checking out. [www.12rods.com]