Calibretto leaves one final imprint
by Ryan Williams
During their existence, local punk artists Calibretto managed to create a national buzz with their releases on Tooth and Nail and Standard Recordings. While they’re wrapping up their business as a band, their latest album “All Of These Things Do Not Belong” is available in stores now.
Listen: "Leader of the Frat" (MP3)
The split release has always been a curious idea to me. Sure, it’s a great way to expose fans of either participant in the recording to the other group, but my experience tells me that fans who usually follow bands who put out split release recordings (as opposed to compilations) are willing to put in the time to research bands and music and have most likely encountered both groups before. One might also assume that it’s an arrangement to share budgets or potentially cover for the lack of decent material to fill up a full-length release.
In the case of the newest split release “All Of These Things Do Not Belong” from Calibretto and Mercury Radio Theater on Kokomo-to-Indianapolis record label Standard Recordings, it seems that both groups had already shared everything else – the record was just the logical next step. The songs were recorded within a month of each other at the same Brazil, IN studio with the same engineer, and Calibretto drummer Christopher Thomas was involved with the production of both sides of the project. The styles of both bands are similar enough that it’s a good blend for the release as well – it’s almost impossible to review each band independently.
The easiest way to distinguish the songs is that Calibretto’s tracks feature vocals, whereas MRT tend toward the instrumental. Both projects’ songs feature witty titles such as “Leader of the Frat” (a Calibretto tune mocking the obvious subject of the title) and “Big Money, Big Money, No Whammies, No Whammies, STOP!” (a dry cultural reference by MRT), and they draw from the same dual reference points of punk and surf-rock. The majority of the tracks on this split release belong to Calibretto, and that’s not a bad thing. There’s something charming and appealing in the derisive glee they deliver “The Object Of My Infection” and “We Put The Fun Back In Funeral”. The MRT tracks almost function as brief interludes between the headliner, but that slights the effort of MRT – these are catchy instrumentals that deserve a second listening.
According to their website, this might be the last you hear of these veterans of Tooth And Nail and Standard Recording. Calibretto, including Thomas, has announced their breakup, with the requisite side projects and future plans announced. Drop by http://www.calibretto.com for some additional goodies, but be sure to pick up this album as well. Calibretto fans get the bonus of the MRT material, and the new audience can be surprised by the whole thing.
