Downtown Singapore – Understanding A Guarantee
Label: Dcide Reocrds
Style: Modern Rock, Emo
Released: 2005
My Grade: 3 stars
AMG: n/a
Sounds like: Trust Company, Thursday, The Get-Up Kids


At one point in time this style of music was considered alternative, or maybe even unique. Those days are long gone and the mall has proved a worthy adversary in the battle for intelligent music; collecting music that is fringe but not too extreme, ideas that seem radical without the double-bladed edge, the music has become the bark without any bite. So where am I going with this? Is this going to lead into a brutal attack of Downtown Singapore and their generic blend of Get-Up Kid’s vocals and Thursday music? Will I attack the credibility of such poor little kids? No actually…

…Why? Because these guys actually do a pleasantly surprising good job; their music is nothing out of the ordinary, but it was created with skill and shows potential for expansion. I would much rather have people listen to this then the schlock currently force-fed on the radio.

On first listen I was given the impression they were a ‘rough around the edges’ clone of countless Vagrant bands, but upon further inspection I saw the real depth portrayed. These guys want to be a rock band, and if they achieve that or not is inconsequential; Although the emo-boy bleeding heart styled cover is a dead giveaway of their immediate influences.

The opening track “Month of May” is probably the biggest offender in cheap imitation, but it holds itself like an original and passes quickly. “Love Gift” starts perfectly for modern rock radio, and like former labelmates Trust Company it feels edgy but not extreme.

The absolute worst offender though, ends the short EP with a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time”. I probably wouldn’t consider it such a bad cover if I did not enjoy the original so much, it is hard to take a timeless pop song and give it a modern edge and this is no different then countless other covers – a mistake, but only a slight one.
So my final grade? These guys are enjoyable, and if they get picked up by a larger label they will probably even break it big – for one year. Then the popularity will fade and these guys will also fade into mediocre obscurity. There is hope of course, but as long as people continue to buy this drivel I doubt they will try to expand their sound.


Reviewed by: Samuel Aaron

Official Website: dtownrock.com