Pictures of Then - Crushed by Lights
November 7th, 2007
By Archived Story
What’s great about the local music scene is that there is a diversity of styles and bands prepared to satisfy whatever tastes you might have.
Pictures of Then is a five-dude alternative-indie rock band from right here in Minneapolis. And their debut album, Crushed By Lights, has the potential to put the group on the map on a national level, mostly because of its middle-of-the-road sound.
The 14 tracks don’t pave any new ground, which isn’t necessarily a bad or a good thing. Pictures of Then has the kind of familiar sound forged by bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Built to Spill in the early 90s.
Musically, Crushed By Lights is fine. It has a balance of older alt-rock with a more modern indie feel. Instrumentally and vocally the band works well.
The disappointing part of the album is, working in a genre typically lauded for its lyrical prowess, it doesn’t deliver lyrically. A lot of songs read like screamo sung by an indie rock singer.
There are definite high and low points on the album. The song “Instant Rocket To Glory” is one of the few catchy, up-beat songs on Crushed. It has an OK Go sort of feel to it, which is absent on the rest of the album. “Followed” is broken into a two-part soft waltz that plays like a bad Radiohead song with repetitive lyrics and melody.
On the whole, it would be no surprise if Pictures of Then became popular. They have the right formula for success, and they play in a genre that’s in right now. As a debut album, Crushed By Lights shows a lot of promise. Hopefully the band will mature and expand beyond the realm of familiarity.
Overall: 5.5/10
