This is not a CD review. This is a reflection upon the worst noise to assault my ears since my little sisters third grade choral recital: Hamell On Trial's latest cd, Tough Love.
Tough Love opens with a raucous guitar chord progression on top of which Ed Hamell's sandpaper voice half-speaks and half-sings to his listeners, "Don't kill, don't kill, don't kill ...". Ok, ok, I won't - just please shut up.
Hamell On Trial's punk acoustic rant "Hallway" sounds like Dylan has the flu and he's covering a School House Rocks tune. Hamell strings together long series of lyric phrases, lacking both rhyme and rhythm (not to mention reason). Pasting awful lyrics atop music ranging from punk, to folk, to pop ballad, Tough Love is a pan-genre guide to how not to play music.
Perhaps a music writer should show some restraint in allowing his personal feelings to show through his writing - well sorry. I find it impossible to discuss Hamell On Trial without recalling the deep personal trauma and discomfort that the band has caused me. Tough Love is a true test of auditory fortitude.
