Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music on Amazon!

JFH Music Review



Number One Gun
The North Pole Project



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 31 minutes, 35 seconds
Street Date: January 15, 2008


Number One Gun decided to call it quits just as they were gaining momentum. They started with a devoted, though somewhat small, fan base following their 2003 Floodgate Records debut Celebrate Mistakes. With indie rock sensibility and catchy choruses to boot, the boys from Chico, CA held lots of promise, and Tooth & Nail agreed. In 2005, they signed the fledging foursome, and later that year, Promises for the Imperfect, produced by Aaron Sprinkle, was released. Their fan base grew as more people became exposed to what was less of an underground indie rock favorite, and now more of a mainstream, technically tight band. But in 2006, they decided to part ways. Vocalist and lead guitarist Jeff Schneeweis pursued a solo career, guitarist Christopher Keene and Jordan Mallory started the band Surrogate, and bassist Trevor Sellers has been spotted on tour with bands like The Rocket Summer and Emery working guitar tech.

Schneeweis started creating music under the name The North Pole Project, but, eventually, he must have been approached by his old friends in Tooth & Nail, who offered to pick him back up if he released his stuff under the guise of Number One Gun. He accepted, and we are now presented with Number One Gun's third record, The North Pole Project.

Considering that Schneeweis was the brainchild of Number One Gun, it is no surprise that things have not really changed musically. "The North Pole Project" simply sounds like the next step in the progression of the band. He gets major points for handling all of the instruments on the record himself, and maintaining that integrity. He even manages to revisit the essence of Celebrate Mistakes on a few occasions, albeit with a progressive spin.

And though this is the band's most technically tight record to date, another huge difference from "then and now" is Schneeweis' voice. Back in the Celebrate Mistakes days, he reserved the strength of his range for moments of climax, but on Promises for the Imperfect, and even more so on this new record, he lets his voice soar all throughout the songs. The change is understandable, but the argument can be made that it negatively affects the level of passion.

Number One Gun has always been known for writing encouraging songs, and The North Pole Project is no exception. From songs like "Wake Me Up" to "I'll Find You," the tone of the entire record stays positive throughout. A point worth noting, however, is the use of "hell" in an exclamatory way on "Thank you Ending." This is a trend that has begun in the industry that is somewhat unsettling. It is understandable that some do not view it as a profanity, but, come on, you have to draw the line somewhere. Impressionable kids listen to this stuff.

That complaint aside, this is a mostly enjoyable third effort in the career of Number One Gun. Purists may object to the continuing progression from indie favorite to mainstream mainstay. Still, anyone who can put together an entire record single handedly deserves some respect, and Schneeweis earns a lot of it here. It may not be their best record to date, but it's still a record you will be listening to long into this new year.

- Review date: 1/12/08, written by Josh Taylor



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Listen to the debut EP from the band Hopeful.!

 

. Record Label: Tooth & Nail Records
. Album length: 10 tracks: 31 minutes, 35 seconds
. Street Date: January 15, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. The Massacre
  2. Million
  3. The Best of You and Me
  4. Wake Me Up
  5. Bad Habits
  6. I'll Find You
  7. Thank You Ending
  8. Find Your Escape
  9. The Different Ones
  10. This Holiday
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Listen to the debut EP from the band Hopeful.!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, March 26, 2024
ALBUMS
Brandon Lake Apple Music Nashville Sessions - EP [Provident]

This Thursday, March 28, 2024
ALBUMS
David And Nicole Binion The Revelation Of Jesus - EP [Integrity]
The Rocky Valentines Erase [Velvet Blue/Tooth & Nail]

This Friday, March 29, 2024
ALBUMS
Grungepunks The Fall Blues EP [Charon Collective]
Meadows Familiar with Pain [Facedown]

SINGLES
Joe L. Barnes Altar - Single [RCAI]
iNTELLECT It Ain’t My Fault - Single [Polished Arrow]
Spoken Worth Holy Week - Double Single (independent)
Gileah Taylor Summer Jubilee - Single [Velvet Blue]

VINYL
Battlecross Pursuit of Honor (Blood Moon Vinyl) [Back Breaker]
Battlecross Rise To Power (Silver Bullet Power Vinyl) [Back Breaker]
Battlecross War of Will (Amber Wave Vinyl) [Back Breaker]

Next Friday, April 5, 2024
ALBUMS
EmanuelDaProphet Fab5 [Capitol CMG]
Me'Kayla Prelude - EP [Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG]
We Are Messengers Where the Joy is [Curb]


For all release dates, click here!
 



Listen to the new album from Hope Beyond Suffering!




Listen to the new Album From Tim Juillet!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images