Posted: January 8th, 2008
Contributed By: Nick

	Purchase @ iTunes Release Date: January 15th, 2008 via Fat Lady Music/ILG
	Egypt Central is: John Falls (Vocals) Jeff James (Guitar) Joey Chicago (Bass) Blake Allison (Drums)

Overview: Egypt Central’s ride through the music industry has been similar to that of a long since forgotten television dating program-you know, the one where the contestant gets to choose which person he or she wants to date based on the information given, but each of the three hopefuls is tucked away inside a “mystery” door? Right. Well let’s take it back to 2005 when Egypt Central hit the studio with producer Josh Abraham and tracked their full length debut album. Now, if only the disc had the right complementary partner to release and distribute this thing. So, Egypt Central chose door number 1 right off the bat, aka Lava Records, but the deal eventually fell through and the band were without a contract. Patience makes the heart grow fonder, and fond it became of the contestant behind door number 2, Bieler Bros. Records. The label was a minuscule weeks away from formally releasing the album in late summer 2006, but as quickly as Egypt Central joined the roster, their ties with Bieler Bros. were severed. Just as the cliche says, “it’s not over until the fat lady sings”, this could not have been more true for Egypt Central, as door number 3 revealed newbie imprint label Fat Lady Music, who will finally, FINALLY release Egypt Central’s debut (which has since been tweaked, remixed, and remastered) on a national level. The band will be touring incessantly throughout the spring and the lead single “You Make Me Sick” is quickly garnering airplay across the country.

The Good: For the record, I reviewed this album back in the Bieler Bros. era of Egypt Central, so I will be using the same album I have had since 2005 for the review, not the newly remixed versions. Let it be known however that I have heard the entire “new” version of the album so I actually have a grasp on what goes on where, etc. Now that that’s out of the way, Egypt Central takes a solid modern rock blueprint and adds their own secret blend of herbs and spices to bulk up the album. “Different” is the album’s green light, and rather than greeting the listener with the predictable aggressive opener, Egypt Central opt for a modest and harmonic approach, as well as leaning more on a smooth, unwavering vibe over grungy, in-your-face riffage. “You Make Me Sick” is a dynamic showcase for the band, as its eclectic verses and pugnacious choruses pay testament, while the next cut “Over and Under” is the sum of the parts of the first two tunes, with galloping rhythms and the introduction to Falls’ unique and blistering wails. “Taking You Down” is truculent at times, but still retains an enviable melodic sensibility, a fitting path into the enveloping and free-floating “Leap of Faith”. “The Way” compiles fluttering choruses with a punk-inspired bridge, and its sister-by-name “Push Away” is a ghostly and nimble tangent with one of the most catchy choruses Egypt Central has to offer. “Walls of Innocence” is a hopeful anthem that is bolstered by added vocal infusions, leading you perfectly to the final hoorah in “Home”, an acoustic track that strays from the stereotypical crestfallen and melancholy persona of such a tune and proves Egypt Central’s raw skills in musicianship.

The Bad: Egypt Central does have many things on their side-an explosive front-man, tight instrumentation, and solid song ideas. Despite having honed these traits, ‘Egypt Central‘ is still little more than yet another, oh I hate to have to say it, but yes, a “nu-metal” album with, in all honesty, nothing to offer that we haven’t already heard. Sadly for Egypt Central, their shining moments come and go hastily, taking many of their songs to what could be considered a lofty height, and then dropping them like pennies off a skyscraper, hoping something they have laid down will be absorbed by listeners. Lyrically, ‘Egypt Central‘ is vanilla, guitar riffs are monotonous more often than not, and the direction of the album is far too predictable. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of reasons TO listen to this disc over others-Falls’ screams, the band’s dynamic sensibility, a handful of hooky choruses, but in the long run, ‘Egypt Central‘ feels more like a flash in the pan installment rather than an album with a shot at longevity; infact, ‘Egypt Central‘ would sound better if released several years ago.

Bottomline: So while Egypt Central have finally put their roots in the ground after firming up a label, touring plans, and a glossier remake of their album, the band is going to have to come out swinging full throttle if they hope to stand out even a wee bit more than the next band that is attempting the exact same thing right next door. I do feel for Egypt Central, I do, because they have talent and they way they have been screwed over and over by the biz is highly unjustified; Egypt Central will need much more than media empathy if they hope to dig in and get known, and unfortunately, their debut album is not the most secure safety net to fallback on.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10