Therefore I Am - Escape [2007]

It's Memorial Day weekend, meaning I'm headed to Lake Havasu, AZ for some fun on the river. This also means I need some high-energy rock to play on the boat. Therefore I Am's 2007 EP Escape certainly fits my needs.

Not many bands gain a local following as large as Therefore I Am before getting signed, especially in a city as picky as Boston. These guys managed to sell out shows in the city with ease, even before signing with Equal Vision Records late last year. Comparisons to the group usually involve Thrice, Circa Survice, Thursday and The Receiving End Of Sirens, which is exactly why TREOS invited the band to open for their farewell concert series.

"The Publicist" gets things moving right from the start with driving guitars and an uptempo beat, perfectly complementing singer Alex Correia's strained vocals. "You and No Other" definitely shows a punk-influence and energy that keeps things moving, while "45 Miles" serves as the first lengthy example of the spacy, ambient sounds the band uses excellently to offset the energy throughout multiple songs.

The intro to "Farewell, via Park" served as my ringtone for a good six months, thanks to its huge riff. "Deep In The Cell" always seems to get overlooked on this EP, if only because it is surrounded by so many stellar tracks.

"Traces" serves as a two-minute segue into the star of the album, "I Get Nervous In Cars." The huge buildup leading into Correia's screamed "you said this night will be your last" will get any crowd singing along, like this Boston bunch. The song makes amazing head-banging, driving-85-on-the-freeway music that you're sure to blare with the windows down, making it no different than every other TIA track.

Their debut full-length, The Sound of Human Lives, is due June 23. The first song "I Am Only An Island" is posted on their MySpace, and seems to indicate TIA is transitioning into a harder sound with more screaming.

Enjoy the EP and be safe this holiday. I'll see you all Monday.

EP: THEREFORE I AM - ESCAPE