Record Review: Clothes Make The Man

Clothes Make The Man - Control EP   2.5/5

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If you're looking for loud, in your face rock 'n roll Clothes Make The Man are the live band for you, and with the release of Control, their 4-track EP, they hope to make an even greater impression on your ipod. Control instead documents their highs and their lows, leaving you somewhere in the middle.

Kicking off the EP is 'Cruisin' a less than impressive hard rocker, with a simple hook 'cruisin for a bruisin' followed by climatic guitar riffs and clashing symbols, but for all its bark, it lacks much bite. The band's big hit track 'Dreamless Nights' is a highlight, showcasing their obvious commercial appeal, with it's monstrous hook, and stadium rock feel, have earned the band a spin on CTV's Degrassi. While 'Mean What You Say' is a more grown up track with its short, choppy guitars over a mid-tempo beat, playing more to their skills as musicians and lyrics that speak of boys all grown up. Unfortunately the band shift back to their less progressive material with Control's closer with the short (just over two minutes long), 'Wide Eyes Shout' by far the weakest link, it never feels quite complete.

The band has certainly developed their sound, front man Ryan McLennan's raspy, scratching vocals give Clothes Make The Man a more unique sound, every so often channeling just a bit of Tim Armstrong's snarl. Cutting their teeth on tracks like 'Dreamless Nights' Clothes Make The Man have considerable talent and potential but only two of the four tracks on Control are really worth the listen. If first impressions are everything, the band delivers a mixed bag.