Handsome Distraction is a four piece band that is based out of Victoria, BC, Canada. Their most recent EP, Fight or Flight, is a five song alternative rock album that blends a modern indie band sound with a touch of 1990s alternative music, with a little bit of punk thrown in for spice.
The EP starts with “Intervention,” a song about the dangers of drugs. The lyrics paint a dark portrait of a young man who has lost control of his life.
“Your life repeats, what they keep supplying. / You fall through the cracks while they keep rising. / Why do you do this to yourself? / You hold a grudge like no one else.“
The song serves as a strong introduction to the band’s music style as the heavy guitar solo leads the listener to a crescendo. It then stops suddenly, as if the person in the song were standing on a ledge and hesitated just before he was about to jump. Then, it drops back into a soft refrain with two harmonious vocals and a soft guitar. It gradually builds back up to a rock beat and singer Devin Perfect closes the tune with the question, “Why do you do this to yourself?“ This is the strongest rock song on the EP.
“Against the Grade” starts with a guitar riff that is reminiscent of old Foo Fighters or the punk band A.F.I. It’s a simple punk rock song with a driving beat the propels the listener through lyrics begging the listener to “watch over me.” This track features the lead guitar playing over the rhythm guitar during the choruses with a killer solo at the end courtesy of lead guitarist Joey Arthur.
I’m guessing the third track, “Bad Neighborhood,” is based on a place the band is familiar with in their hometown of Victoria. While they don’t leave any clues as to the exact location, they do give plenty of lyrical signs as to what you can find there. Asking the question, “Who goes out at night anymore?“ Handsome Distraction sings a cautionary tale about drug dealers, prostitutes, junkies, and killers. The singer is begging the authorities to check it once and a while. “Bad Neighborhood” reminds me of the mid 1990s alternative wave of music that followed grunge. It features some great chord changes that shift from major to minor with a lot of emphasis on vocal harmonies. It also has the best bass and drum riffs on the EP.
“Knee Deep” is a carefree melodic rocker with a bass line that will have the listener grooving to the beat. The lyrics describe two people that are “knee deep in trouble,” but then follows that lyric with “La la la la la,“ which tells the listener they don’t really care. The end of the song features an epic guitar solo which crescendos and falls back into the riff that drives the entire song.
The EP closes with “Animal,” a four and a half minute rocker that would serve the band well as a jam song for their live show. “When she lies, she lies like an animal,” lyrically describes a bad girl that hunts down her prey. The simple guitar riff at the beginning would be at home on an AC/DC album. Then the band shifts to a more melodic alt rock riff layered with vocals that go back and forth between the two singers, Devin and Joey. The driving guitar part could easily propel a mosh pit.
Handsome Distraction has successfully combined the best of modern bands with a touch of music from the past that inspired them. The interesting mix of modern and 90′s era alternative style music make Fight or Flight a very satisfying experience.
Recommended for fans of Kings of Leon and the Foo Fighters.
Handsome Distraction - Fight or Flight,
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shane With over 2000 albums in his collection, Shane York is always filling his days with the sound of guitars and drums. His favorite forms of music are hard rock and melodic heavy metal, with a soft spot for 70's era AC/DC. Shane swears the best concert he's ever seen was the Foo Fighters in a small club back on The Colour & The Shape tour, though Metallica touring on Master of Puppets was a close second. He is a graduate of NC State University, a former sailor in the US Navy, and works in the Raleigh area. He welcomes all comments and thanks you for reading!
Hey shane great review, Old guitar player was on that album though. in the liner notes
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