Airborne Toxic Event's Hell Is Too Tepid

I'm the type of guy who gets very excited by blistering chord changes. For me that demonstrates a recording artist notices the full possibilities of what music can do for mind, body, and soul. There isn't a whole lot of gusto lurking within LA outfit Airborne Toxic Event's contribution to Matthew McConaughey's star vehicle Dallas Buyers Club, "Hell and Back". Given that we're not so far into the new year that it's already time to start full on grousing and grouching about things I'd like to start this post with what's admirable about the song. The brotherhood affirming "Sha na na" chorus is right friendly. You'd value the opportunity to swap tales with a chum of this caliber. Also, Noah Harmon's upright bass is spellbinding. I can't knock "Hell and Back" for getting into a rhythm and opting to stay the course in order to keep listeners ears firmly on the prize. What my sticking point is regards how much mileage you have to drain from what's a pretty monotonous C chord harmony. Really dazzling songs tend to go all over the place like a runaway firecracker. "Hell and Back" is a straight, rigid arrow destined for only one direction. That'll put you, the listeners, in good stead if marching, undemanding, yet faintly purposeful songcraft is to your liking. Otherwise you might need an anti-snooze medicine to stay afloat. Mikel Jollett, the head tonsil flasher for the tribe conveys Matthew's on screen sex appeal which has brought him a long way from the days Austin locals remember, the days of hammering out tribal notes on the bongos. Daren Taylor is in large part a drummer motioned into background service. There's no need to insist he get all Alex Van Halen but his is an understated touch. Anna Bulbrook is part of the previously mentioned chorus. A woman's touch is certainly a bonus here. She and Noah blend in all the right places. The lyrics spotlight the value of the human touch, of connectedness. That's reasonable enough. It's the love of a good woman blueprint all over again. Boy tries to walk away from girl. Girl somehow gets boy to come crawling back. Let's play the drinking game. Anytime future tunes attempt to re-preach this message, let's take a sip of whatever spirit is close at hand. Drunken merriment is bound to ensue. Nothing particularly merry or sprinting away from the pack different about "Hell and Back" To put it bluntly the band's NAME is more exciting than the song they're promoting. There's nothing desirable about that conclusion. Dallas Buyers Club made the list of nominees for the 2014 Oscars. "Hell and Back" isn't going to come anywhere near my end of year list, still light years away from conception, of the five best songs of 2014. Don't misunderstand me, "hate" is not the verb I'm going for here. It's simply not hellfire spicy enough to warrant much more than slight shrug league attention. One of the lines in the choral refrain is: "My mind's like a one way track and every one is taking me back to you." Fitting, isn't it? One track mind...one track sound. Not a winning recipe.