Half Visconte

"Was It Fear?" CD

Sunset Alliance

Genres: indie rock

Sunset Alliance
PO Box 32048
Phoenix AZ 85275

May 19 - 25 2003

Was It Fear? is an amazing record.  Take the emotional nature of emo, subtract the whining, add excellent songwriting, and you've got Half Visconte.  While it isn't the sing-along pop fix you may have been looking for, Was It Fear? instead is a deep, dark stroll through a world of moody desperation, as guided by four guys from the USA.

The first thing you'll notice about this album is its stubbornness to conform to popular convention.  While you'll have your occasional two-and-a-half minute gem, Half Visconte aren't afraid to jump into a slow, quarter-hour epic afterwards to throw you off your balance.  Passionate indie rock melodies come effortlessly in the emotional "A Walking Tour of Trinidad, CO," while a song like "11" vies for a less accessible instrumental approach.  So is the story with Was It Fear? - it's never fit to stay with one style.  And while this may seem woefully inconsistent at first, it works wonders in this case, keeping the listener engaged and entertained.

So let's hope the members of Half Visconte - who have already persevered and stuck together through moves across the country (the members are now spread out all over the USA) - can stay a band for at least one more album.  If Was It Fear? is any indication, HV could be heading towards legendary status - defying musical convention all the way to the indie rock hall of fame.

90%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 13 songs, distributed by the label, released 2003]