ARTIST - PILLBOX REMEDY
CD - GO ON, TAKE THE SCISSORS AND RUN
LABEL - INDEPENDENT ARTIST
RELEASE DATE - JULY, 2008
SOUNDS LIKE - Green Day, Alkaline Trio, Smoking Papas, Joey Cope, Dashboard, Face to Face
DEFINING MOMENTS - Break Up, Make Up, Lather, Rise, Repeat
STRENGTH - Shows Strong Potential, Consistency, Impressive stripped down musical delivery
WEAKNESS - Unorthodox Delivery, Too Short (Under 10 Minutes), Incomplete Musical Experience, Marketability
KATAVI RATING - 3 out of 7 masks
San Diego native Carlos Paras, sole member of Pillbox Remedy releases his fourth disc entitled Go on, Take the Scissors and Run. This latest 4 song EP was released in July, 2008. Influences include but not limited to Green Day, Alkaline Trio, Smoking Papas, Joey Cope, Dashboard, and a splash of Face to Face.
Logging on at just over 9 minutes in length the EP kicks off with “Go on, take the Scissors and Run”: an upbeat song that puts a bad relationship into a defiant yet positive perspective for the listener – “You stole my heart and I want it back!” All 4 songs feature just Carlos Paras stripped down with his acoustic guitar and voice in the forefront. His songs possess a high energy, acoustic Green Day-type vibe to them. His rhythm guitar playing is rock solid as he delivers a high-energy playing style using traditional rock based chord structures coupled with catchy lyrics and melodic vocals. Track 2: “Anne Janine’s Last Stand” gets a bit more deeper lyrically. On this piece we get a glimpse of lyrical brilliance from Carlos as he sings a song that offers up the perfect balance between mysterious subject matter and thought provoking wordage. “Track 3: “Break Up, Make Up, Lather, Rise, Repeat” is by far my favorite piece on the EP. It has an interesting guitar intro to it, complete with heart felt subject matter, addictive melodies, and passionate vocals. As a song this one will touch you deeply than any of the others. Vocally Carlos delivers a catchy, sing-songy-type vocal delivery on each song, complete with a youthful sound, well placed harmonies, and clever lyrics. Overall all these songs hold there own pretty good in lieu of their solitary musical environment. Make no bones about it - it takes talent to do this right. However I can’t help but wonder what these songs would sound like with a full band them. The EP ends with “Your Eyes, Your Lies” a surprisingly bright and bouncy song with bitter lyrical content. This song features my favorite line on the whole EP “The truth is something you can’t seem to express, I wouldn’t trade that trait for this loneliness.” Nice touch Carlos. Most of these songs are about love and friendship but are sung from a frustrated perspective. The title of the CD Go on Take the Scissors and Run is a warning of sorts from a much wiser faction. Carlos is obviously that faction, and no doubt has every right to be frustrated with some of the relationship he been in. After all he’s not the one running with the scissors.
Go on, Take the Scissors and Run is not without its negatives. At under 10 minutes in length it’s by far the shortest musical production I’ve ever come across. As a result it’s a bit unorthodox. Because of this it feels like an incomplete musical experience. Just when you start to get emotionally attached to some of these songs they’re gone in a flash. The songs themselves are a microcosm of the EP, an incomplete experience. I do like artists that keep their statements short and sweet, but Pillbox Remedy takes this way to far. It’s no coincidence great songs hold our attention span just long enough to make a lasting impression upon the listener. If songs like “Break Up, Make Up, Lather, Rise, Repeat” were say a bit longer, had the nice passionate finale to it, behind a full band, it would no doubt be one of the most popular songs of the year. Carlos Paras was on to something very special on this song. I might add Carlos possesses a good, cutting-edge look to him. Although I like the stripped down acoustic guitar approach from Carlos I can’t help but wonder again what these songs would sound like with a full band behind them.
Pillbox Remedy will no doubt work best served at alternative coffee shops or college hangouts where having a young dude playing acoustic guitar, singing about failed relationships will pass the time nicely. If I could say anything to Carlos Paras it would be continue to progress as a songwriter. Don’t be afraid to give some of your material a bit more breathing room. and try adding a few more layers of instrumentation to your music. This can all be done without losing your conservative sound and musical foundation where you're in the forefront. As this is the fourth release from Carlos Paras, he is obviously a driven individual who is committed to himself. Above anything this CD proves Pillbox Remedy has an amazing amount of musical potential that could be a real force to be reckoned with someday. Something tells me this won’t be the last we’ll hear from Pillbox Remedy or Carlos Paras for that matter.
My overall rating - 3
out of 7 masks.
Cyrus Rhodes - 5/28/09
KATAVI ARTS
