Rolling Stone (p.120) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[T]heir emo attack is full of signs of life, including speed-punk bashing; dark, spidery melodicism; and soft, lush melancholia."
Midtown: Gabriel Saporta (vocals, bass guitar); Tyler Rann, Heath Saraceno (guitar, background vocals); Robert Hitt (drums).
Recording information: Ruby Red, Atlanta, Georgia.
New Jersey-based Midtown fuses the unbridled energy and metallic edge of modern emo-core with an angular sense of melody and willingness to experiment that recalls the best moments of post-punk and early American hardcore. FORGET WHAT YOU KNOW, the band's fourth album, is driven by the up-front, Wire/New Order-like bass lines of lead vocalist and four-stringer Gabriel Saporta, and the kinetic drumming of Robert Hitt. Taking its cue from Husker Du's classic ZEN ARCADE, the group sticks to rock, but isn't afraid to take occasional detours, from the barroom piano on "God Is Dead" and "Waiting for the News" to the wispy, Nick Drake-ish intro of "Manhattan."