Calling Accents an indie-folk band is kinda like calling Cannibal Corpse a speed metal band. The statement is true enough, except that each band obliterates any subtlety that might have existed in the genre. And yes, plenty of speed metal bands employ (employed?) subtlety. Subtly.

Thing is, I like the overkill approach. Accents writes songs that demand to be blown out at full volume. Some folks write confessional ditties, and some folks write anthems. Accents writes GODDAMNED BACKBREAKING ANTHEMS. And occasionally Pretty Freakin' Overbaked Not-Exactly-Introspective Mood Pieces.

Accents Tall Tales (Deep Elm)

Which is cool. You know the formula: start with a simple lick and a single-tracked vocal line and then build. Accents doesn't build. It explodes. Even better, there are two vocalists. I love bands that have a guy and a girl singing. That alone goes a long way.

What really works here is the seamless nature of these songs. They boom out of nowhere and fade away into the black almost as fast. One supernova after another. If you want to hear sensitive songs about pain, loss, resentment and the like, this is not your album. But if you want to feel your heart race again and again (so much so that you don't stop to think about exactly what you're hearing), this should do you right.

Even on the somewhat less bombastic tunes, Accents comes on full bore. This reminds me a lot of the Mowgli's, who got a major-label deal a few months after their indie release (and not coincidentally, a band I love to death). There's a market for this kinda stuff. Which is cool.

Again, don't go a lookin' for subtlety, cause there's none to be found here. For a while I was really fighting my enthusiasm, but after a couple of listens I gave up. I mean, who has time for petty whining?

Okay, I do. That's my job. But I don't feel like engaging in that stuff here. Tall Tales is far too much fun to trouble with petty details. Just crank it up and smile like hell. There are far worse things in life.

Jon Worley