Weep, Worn Thin

By Less Lee Moore

You may have thought that Weep was just a one hit wonder.

You were wrong.

Worn Thin is the new album from the band and it’s wonderful.

The first three songs are absolutely golden, beginning with the glorious rush of “Snow Scenery” and its superb synth melodies and even more subtle and spooky synth bits peeking in during the chorus. It’s the kind of song you adore immediately and which just improves with subsequent listenings.

“Let Me” continues the sensation of running through the woods that Siouxsie and The Banshees and The Cure captured so perfectly. It features another splendid synth melody that grabs hold of you and does not let go. The fade out ending is so enticing it makes the entire song better.

The arresting electronic drums at the beginning of “When I’m Wrong” sound even cooler when followed by twangy guitar and yes, electronic violins. The synth melodies are once again, stunning, and there is an instantly addictive chorus that somehow gets better the more you hear it.

One might think that in the midst of all this lush, exquisite beauty, Doc Hammer’s gravelly, robotic voice might seem anachronistic, but the contrapuntal effect is actually quite perfect. His singing is higher in the mix than it was on Never Ever and the songs are better for it.

“A Reminder” slows things down a bit, with a dreamy and romantic Cocteau Twins sensibility and poignant lyrics, while “The Time I Thought That” is heavier—even dirty-sounding—with fantastic percussion and feedback and guitars that push close to the edge of noodling (in a good way). It actually rocks, something I never thought I’d think about a Weep song.

“Over Now” and “Calm Down” are a bit slower, sounding more like the songs on Never Ever. Initially, they felt like a bit of a letdown after the first five tracks on this album. Yet they’ve grown on me; both songs are quite good, with the former evoking Disintegration-era Cure and finishing off with a grand symphonic ending and the latter showcasing some great guitar riffs and vocals.

There’s even a revamped remix of “Ever Shy” where its lovely acoustic guitar opening gets a bit more focus as the percussion drops out.

“Worn Thin” is something of a revelation, featuring an Adam and the Ants-style drumbeat and guitar with synthesized clarinet sounds. And “Interlude” is the most experimental-sounding music we’ve yet heard from Weep, with weird sonar waves pulsating through a thick sludge, almost like a creepier version of Japan’s “The Experience Of Swimming.” By the end it transforms into something almost approaching orchestral.

Worn Thin is compelling proof that Weep is not some group of hipster New Wave wannabes, but a band that deserves your attention. And definitely your love.

Worn Thin was released July 13 through Projekt Records and can be purchased from iTunes. It also contains irony-free covers of Jesus Jones’ “Right Here Right Now” and Rihanna’s “Shut Up and Drive,” both of which will likely force you to love both songs (if you didn’t before).

Be sure to check out Weep on MySpace, and find out more about their 6 Interpretations remix CD.