Band: I Am The Heat
Album: The Future Doesn’t Need Us
Genre: Indie/Rock
Label: High Five

Tracks:
1. Dream Machine
2. Your Monsters
3. What Would Lou Reed Do
4. Silver Skies
5. Tonight (And I’ll Save You)

Brooklyn’s I Am The Heat are set to release their second EP, The Future Doesn’t Need Us, on July 15, 2008. Prior to receiving this album to review, I had heard of the band but hadn’t heard any of their stuff. When I put my copy of The Future Doesn’t Need Us into my car stereo, I was immediately captivated by the raw post-punk, garage-band feel of the band.

The album opens with, “Dream Machine,” which starts with a steady drum beat that gives you the general feel of the song. About 5 seconds later, the bass and guitar kicks in, followed by the vocals. It’s hard to deny that the rhythmic feel portrayed in the opening track sets the tone for the rest of the EP. I Am The Heat is able to capture that dance-able Friday night garage band sound that so many bands try to achieve, but fail.

The rest of the EP takes the lead of the first song, and is heavy on percussion and bass. When you combine the strong bass and drum backbeat (Anthony Dines and Mike Horaz) with the accentuated guitar chords (Jameson Edwards), a sound is created that can really only be described in one word– amazing. My personal favorite song was, “What Would Lou Reed Do.” It seems to be one of those tunes you can’t help but tap your feet to. The clapping at the beginning will for sure be a crowd-pleaser. The vocals are rough, but not unbearable. They seem to carry the perfect range for what one would expect of a garage-band, gone big. I can’t help but think that this song screams “Guitar Hero’s newest rock-out tune.”

The album comes to a close with, “Tonight (And I’ll Save You),” which is of a different style than the rest of the EP. With mellow vocals and a relaxed guitar line, this song shows a different, but not bad, side of I Am The Heat. The keyboard riffs seem to add the finishing touch to this tune, and definitely help to send the EP out on a good note.

Overall, the album is pretty good. I’m impressed with I Am The Heat but would recommend a little more time on the production end of the recording. The songs are great, the band is talented and full of potential, but the production is a little sloppy. With some better (more clear) mixing, this band could definitely make it. The Future Doesn’t Need Us seems to be an album that both, my father (in his 40s) and I (am 19) can both find enjoyable. The garage band sound, when done right, is always a winner in my book, and I Am The Heat definitely know how to do it right. The Future Doesn’t Need Us is the perfect way for I am The Heat to introduce themselves to us because it tells us one thing very clearly: I am The Heat are the next big thing.

*Written By: Meaghan Allen*
GRADE: 8/10

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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