Glasseater Everything Is Beautiful When You Don't Look Down CD

Glasseater has everything -- a big, dense, noisy sound that hides a sweet and chewy center beneath its crunchy exterior; tight and thrilling vocal harmonies; lyrics that aren't embarrassing at all; and some guy screaming in a hoarse roar every so often in the background. OK, so everything's not perfect. The fact is, it's about time for them to lose the screaming schtick. It's not adding anything anymore; it sounds tacked onto the band's beautifully sculpted melodic noise like an afterthought. Screaming is good, but it's kind of like peanut butter -- just because you have some on hand doesn't mean you need to throw it into every recipe you make. Even with the unnecessary yelling, though, this is a very consistently enjoyable album. Particular highlights include the headlong complexity of "Shortcut for a Quick Getaway," and a glorious welter of lyrical cheerleading and multi-guitar heaviosity called "From Cradle to Grave." And the CD comes with CD-ROM content that includes a video for "At Your Own Risk," interview footage, an in-studio documentary, and a link to a "secret website." Recommended. ~ Rick Anderson

You Don't Look Down

Glasseater: Julio C. Marin (vocals); JC Lopez (guitar, background vocals); Ariel A. Arro (guitar); Anthony Lopez (bass, background vocals); Nathan VanDame (drums).

Personnel: Julio C. Marin (vocals); J.C. Lopez (guitar, background vocals); Anthony Lopez (bass guitar, background vocals); Nathan VanDame (drums).

Recording information: Wisner Productions, St. Cloud, FL (04/2003-06/2003).

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.CMJ (8/11/03, p.34) - "...[The band] knows how to play the saucer-eyed, melodic emo and bouncy pop-punk cards, infusing the earnest, heart-on-the-sleeve vibe with just enough rock 'n' roll to attract sensitive metalheads into its lair..."