To call Down The Line predictable wouldn’t be completely fair. They do manage to break out of the box they’ve created for themselves every so often but even that seems strained. It is not that Down The Line is bad, it’s just simply unoriginal.
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Down The Line
|  Entertainment
Art
“For All You Break”
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Such a lack of style might be acceptable on a debut album, but For All You Break is the third full-length album for Down The Line. At that point in a band’s career you should be willing to experiment with your formula to give audiences something different to look forward to. The band describes their style as being filled with “mighty hooks and harmonies.” The result, though, is that a lot of lyrics get repeated and it gets dull very fast.
The one redeeming song on the album comes early on with “Slip On Through.” The band lets loose a bit and creates some genuinely good music. The big surprise came from the amazing harmonica solo by Dan Myers. Myers shows some real talent and should find himself a better band to associate himself with. Of all the members, Myers not only shows the most talent but the largest contribution as well. Anyone that can play the harmonica, mandolin, violin and still provide vocals deserves a leading role in any band.
This album will in no way rock your world. Arranged and recorded over the course of only 12 days, the band might have spent longer focusing on lyrics. For instance, track fives “Melody” contains the sophomoric lyrics “I can’t avoid that look/ She’s caught me with her hook.” That might be the simplest rhyme ever recorded outside of hip-hop. Much of the song revolves around watching a girl at a football game. The entire first half of the song involves setting the scene, something that seems totally unnecessary given the nature of the song. If they had simply cut to the chase it would have been far more interesting.
It is possible that this bias against the band is simply generational. Had the band come out in the early 90’s they would have been welcomed with open arms. A lot of their music is reminiscent of early Rob Thomas and the light rock of Hootie and The Blowfish, though it should be said that the background harmonies on “I Can’t Get Away” are supremely annoying. Hearing guys singing what sounds like doo-wop in the background of any song except really good soul just doesn’t feel right. If they do decide to make another album Down The Line has to seriously rethink that musical strategy.
Starting out as a new band is always rough, it takes awhile to get your style right. Based on what I’ve heard so far it is obvious that Down The Line isn’t aiming for any sort of hardcore rock star lifestyle. If they are comfortable with where they are at then they should stick with what they are doing. But if they want to make any sort of name for them selves in the music industry they are going to have try something, anything, to differentiate their music from the literally thousands of other bands that sound just like them.
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