Count the Stars
Never be Taken Alive (2003)

review by: Jason Thornberry
Date: 1/14/03

The detail that first caught my eye was that Count The Stars extract inspiration, equally from both, The Smiths and Cave In. I don't know or care whether it's the old agro-metal-screamy Cave In or the newer contemplative space-rock pedigree. Both editions are su-perb, and made me eager to get "Never Be Taken Alive" in both hands. Plus, they've done their fair share of touring, and had twenty songs ready in advance for this album.

I'm not really hearing their alleged "Emo bits", thankfully. Emo-core can, and frequently does, suck my ass dry, to be candid. I've never quite understood what all the phony moping was about. Plus Emo songs sound more or less identical to the other band's on any given "sensitive" bill that night. The groups all go and dye their hair black, get star tattoos, wear t-shirts an eight-year-old would find snug, and sing about being misunderstood.

Not this particular ensemble. They're far too upbeat to whine in public. Even with morose song titles such as "Better Off Alone" and "Taking It All Back", Count The Stars announce with optimism that "the world can swallow you whole, but I will never be taken alive." Right there is a possible antidote to the toxin that is making far too any "acclaimed" bands sound the same lately.