Review: Humble Ary - Self-Titled

artist: humble ary album: self-titled label: ash from sweat records released: by: eduardo moutinho I envy Humble Ary for many reasons. First off, they have been around for what seems like a long time in my book. They’ve stuck with it for a while, going through lineup changes, evolution in sound, etc. It seems like all the bands in our little niche of the Colorado scene break up to form new “mutant” lineups, for reasons that elude me. Yet, Humble Ary remains. I wish I was in a band that would last, and have the experiences that these guys have had. They’ve toured the country, and as I write this very review, they are getting ready to head out on the road again. On top of everything, they have managed to get better and better as a band in general. So without further ado, I give you a review of their latest self-titled offering. Commenting on the packaging, this is one of the simpler Ash From Sweat releases I’ve seen, as the CD itself is contained within a small, yellow, company-type letter envelope with a Humble Ary stencil logo printed on the front. Along with the jet-black bottomed CD (think old PlayStation One games), there is a small fold-out track list/acknowledgment paper. Packaging-wise, it’s still more interesting than most releases out there, nevertheless. Out of all the bands on Ash From Sweat Records, I’d have to say that Humble Ary is the most unique. Well, maybe (the) kindercide beats them to the tape, but I say that it’s definitely a photo finish. Humble Ary’s sound is very sinusoidal, like a roller-coaster, or taking a combination of amphetamines and barbiturates. At one moment, the music is very up-tempo, with lots of screaming and chaos, and all of a sudden, you’re in the middle of a quiet and very moody interlude littered with spastic spoken word. And if you have seen this band, you’d be nodding your head saying “That’s Humble Ary alright…” The music itself is sporadic, yet executed with precision. With the addition of Dennis Phelps (who happens to be vocalist Dan Phelps’ brother) on bass, the music itself got even more spastic, in a good way. The guitar and bass on the record are on different planets, yet they harmonize quite well, and I find this to be a really interesting aspect of the music on this record. The bass lines are incredibly catchy, just listen to “Do it for Fun” to see what I mean. The guitar too is interesting, and listening to the strings duel with each other is quite fun. Dan Phelps’ voice has an emotional drawl to it, reminiscent of Off Minor’s vocalist. The lyrics are distinguishable from the screaming, and the vocals themselves fit the music quite well. For those who read my Milemarker show review from earlier this year, you’d remember me describing their sound as heavy, but not in a “chugga chugga” metal way. Humble Ary’s sound fits the same mold. The music here is thick. There is no hint of “poppiness” to be found. Listen to “Plan A Has Backfired” to witness the heaviness first hand; it’s really hard to describe without letting your ear “see” what I mean. The music is solemn, and the intricacies of the sound along with Dan Phelps’ lyrics are trying to relay a serious message. You don’t walk away depressed from the music, you walk away with a furrowed brow, trying to understand what the band wants you to feel and think after listening to their music. It’s rare when a band manages to do that to you. Honestly though, the heaviness and roller-coaster ride eventually catches up to me, as I yearn for one or two songs to be a little more consistently up-tempo. But as I think about it, that would take away from what the guys are trying to achieve with their sound. In the end, this is an incredibly interesting release, and highly recommended for a listen. favorite song: "do it for fun" rating: 85%/100%