SHREDnews

by: Jonny Drybanski

Nascent indie rocker Jonathan Ware organized Reboot The Robot in 2008 and released a first EP, Nothing, Something, Everything in July 2009 and have now promptly released a second, entitled When All We Have.

For Ashley ,an earnest, angst ridden love song, tugs on the heart strings with delicately plucked acoustic guitar sliding underneath vocals reminiscent of pop-punk acts the likes of Fall Out Boy. Though acoustic guitars are used throughout, it is played in a style that suggests this song would be more accurately represented as a full band rock song, with sharp forceful strumming begging to be transmitted though some electronics.

This Is A Rescue Mission is an introspective reflection, speaking to the air, pleading for guidance to anyone who will listen in a straightforward acoustic ballad laden with emotional lead vocals sure to provoke empathy from fans. A nicely phrased, yet basic sounding acoustic guitar solo follows with some layered chords and clean bass joining in. Though effective as a slow ballad the song seems to lose forward motion in the second half and the unabashed emotional strain in the vocals loses some of its authenticity after hearing mostly lyrics in a four minute acoustic song.

“I’m not going anywhere with out you” proclaims Not Giving In, a romance entangled plea to a loved one with vocals that soar to a height not usually heard in an acoustic song. The vocals, though very well done, call to mind the tone of  Fall Out Boys’ Patrick Stump. Being able to recognize the similarity as someone who hardly listens to the latter band signals a need for a more distinctive sound to accompany already solid songwriting.

Just Too Far starts strong with melodic vocal lines and clean strumming before starting to sound robotic ( a way that I don’t think is meant as a nod to the band name) and slightly disjointed towards the end, but finishes with a strong vocal effort.

A Means To An End, and Deception Is What The World Calls Romance quietly close the EP in similar fashion with relaxed guitar,  and lyrics involving emotional struggle.

Overall, Reboot The Robot has the groundwork of reasonably solid though topically narrow songwriting and strong (albeit familiar sounding) vocals to release a full album. However, they could benefit greatly from working out deeper multi-instrument arrangements, as the acoustic approach leaves them sounding generic at times.

For Fans Of: Fall Out Boy, Dashboard Confessional,The All American Rejects

Top Tracks: For Ashley, Not Giving In

Rating: 6/10