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Permanent Revolution
Over its brief history, Catch 22 has asked a lot of its fans, releasing three albums with three different singers (the best being Thomas Kalnoky now of Streetlight Manifesto). Finally offering a bit of consistency, Permanent Revolution, is the second studio album featuring saxophonist Ryan Eldred on vocals.
The band’s last effort, 2003’s Dinosaur Sounds, was so poor it was almost unlistenable. Unfortunately, Eldred doesn’t fare much better this time around. While Eldred is competent on the saxophone, his vocal style could be described as “lounge singer.”
Permanent Revolution is a concept album, detailing the rise and fall of the Bolshevik Revolution. Though it’s a compelling idea, the excitement of the revolution doesn’t really come across in the recording. Even the most up-tempo tracks seem to lag to the speed of Eldred’s lethargic delivery.
About halfway through the album, band and singer finally find the same style, with the unbearable lounge number “Alma Ata (1928).”
I give Catch 22 props for taking on the Bolsheviks and for a slight improvement over their last album. However, I still think this CD is going into the never-get-around-to-listening-to-again pile. Sorry, boys.
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