War Tapes – The Continental Divide

If Interpol and The Killers had a love child who had developed a man-crush on Joy Division, War Tapes would be it. The Los Angeles based “heart quaking doom-pop” band’s debut album, The Continental Divide, is an ode to dreamy, power driven rock-pop music that manages to avoid sounding like it was developed in a factory.

At first glance, War Tapes appears as nothing more than another crew of trendy L.A. punk-rockers, with new wave hair cuts, chiseled jaw lines and black eyeliner. Upon listening to lead singer and rhythm guitarist Neil Popkin’s deep vocals, however, it’s immediately apparent that there’s more to the band than appearance.

The Continental Divide opens with “The Night Unfolds,” a strong lead-in track with a fast, pump up rhythm from drummer William Mohler that possesses a Strokes-like quality. Becca Popkin, Neil’s sister and War Tapes’ bassist, provides a feminine, atmospheric touch to Neil’s dark, masculine voice and Matt Bennett’s heavy guitar riffs.

“Mind is Ugly” is another stand out track that experiments with Neil’s raw vocals and gloomy lyrics. “Everything’s my fault/Everything at all/Tonight I’m giving up/Tonight I’m losing control.” But the band’s matured and well-placed hints of shoegaze and new wave sound keep The Continental Divide from sounding too controlled, contrived, or emo for that matter.

The band shows its highest potential in “Dreaming of You,” a melodic-filled monster that is very tempting to listen to over and over again. Here Becca’s feminine influence and soft chanting breaks the brooding and shows off the bands’ versatility.

The Continental Divide won’t make War Tapes the breakout L.A. band of the year, but it won’t pass them off as another mature attempt that fell short either. There’s a spark in their melancholy sound that has yet to become a flame.

Label: Sarathan
Release Date: 05/26/09

-Matt Anderson