tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757995510081828446.post5123193974634598667..comments2024-03-10T01:58:25.592-08:00Comments on Stallion Alert - Record Collecting - Portland, OR: The Halo Benders - The Rebels Not In (LP, 1998)Wockenfusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08282053092634048786noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8757995510081828446.post-78762658129967884752009-04-08T17:14:00.000-07:002009-04-08T17:14:00.000-07:00I have always been torn on this one. There are son...I have always been torn on this one. There are songs I love but for the first time on a Benders record there are songs that I am not that crazy about. Is this a bad record? No. It just follows two stellar records and does not really live up. The songs seem much more focused and worked out, which is a bummer as the half finished feel of the first two (especially "Don't Tell Me Now") really added to their charm. Part of me has always felt that the Benders really dropped the ball with sequencing on this one. "Virginia" is a great song but is just too long to be an effective opener. On the other side, why is "Foggy Bottom," possibly the best song on the record, tucked away at the end? Another thing holding this one is the lack of Doug's vocals. Not that he isn't here, but there are more than a few songs that are strictly Calvin, yet another departure from the first two. There are some real clunkers here. Would the album have suffered without "Surfers Haze" or the 6 minute instrumental "Rebels Got A Hole In It?" Absolutely not. "Devil City Destiny" and "Turn It My Way" seemed phoned in. However, there are some great songs here. The aforementioned "Virginia" and "Foggy Bottom" are awesome are as "Bury Me," "Your Asterisk" and the genius "Love Travels Faster." My take on making this one much better? Lose "Surfers" and "Rebels," rearrange the track order and your pretty good to go.Biff Pocarobahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963683576828172145noreply@blogger.com