When I first heard this I was just plain angry – I felt that what could have
been a good record had been ruined. The drums sound hollow and like they are in
another room. The guitar is trebly and all the heavy riff work gets lost – only
the vocals stand out. I wanted production like Lake of Dracula album – turn it
up and get bounced off the wall by the sonic punch. Campground Effect are a 3
piece US rock band and this is their second album. It’s a raw affair, they have
gone for a live sound. It’s obvious similarities are with rock bands like Nirvana
and Fugazi – the sort of band you need to see live in a packed, sweaty club and
come out soaked with your ears ringing.
Repeated listening has led me to like this album and love the energy and guitar
work. It has loads of guitar noise, anger, angst, and shouting.Strangely enough my
favourite moment is the first 30 seconds of Permanent Hospital, before the
screaming starts – if they ever add subtlety to their armoury then Campground Effect
are going to be a force to be reckoned with. I still have a feeling that this album
was a missed opportunity but that’s because I like the music. The next step
Campground Effect need to make is like the move Nirvana made between Bleach
and Nevermind – a near impossible task but one most bands don’t even line up
on the starting blocks for.
