CASANATRA
Is This Tonight?
(Blue Worm Records)

This is a nice little four song sampler by a band who fall more into the alternative rock or post-hardcore genres than punk rock. Actually this is probably the furthest removed of the punk genre that I've ever reviewed. What Casantara is about is deep, rich, guitar riffs, long drawn out bass lines, and wonderful vocals that command your attention. You will find no shouting or yelling here but more of a powerful singing style. The vocal tone falls somewhere between Eddie Vedder and Glenn Danzig. There are plenty of slight tempo changes within each song. However, a solid mid-tempo range is the norm, and it almost seems as if this is done to keep the listener from falling behind or not being able to experience each song like they themselves do. Lyrics vary from insightful to emotional, but perhaps more importantly, honesty is a key component here. Creativity seeps from the minds of this Minneapolis band, and I'm sure a full-length would be enough to really showcase something fantastic. Fans of Shellac or Shades Apart should enjoy Casanatra. Find out more about this at www.bluewormrecords.com.