Artist: Nemes
Album: Don’t Flush Me
Genre: Folk/Country/Rock

On their 865 EP, Worcester, MA’s Nemes showcased a mashup of pop punk and folk sensibilities that was familiar enough for passing listeners, yet unique enough to set them apart from the faceless masses of “the scene.” Years of touring and dozens of concepts later, the group has re-emerged almost completely void of their pop punk angst and found a new sonic home all their own with their latest release, Don’t Flush Me.

Starting with “Blues” and running through the very end the title track, Don’t Flush Me finds Nemes exploring the possibilities of a world built on punk sentiment and the love of a more laid back, folk-meets-rock sound. The album kicks off with gruff, 70’s blues-rock swagger, but quickly evolves into a sound much more at home in the folk/country genre. This is not to discredit their rock ethos, they are alive and well throughout, but the instrumentation and songwriting has evolved to a point such titles no longer fit.

What resonates loudest on Don’t Flush Me is truly the vocal and lyrical stylings of Dave Anthony and Josh Knowles. Anthony, more buried in introversion and the sound of adventurer’s loss than ever before, pairs perfectly with the schoolboy shyness of Knowles. Likewise, their writing styles, often entangled throughout the release, keeps things from going too far down any one rabbit hole of sound. Unlike most dual vocalists, they’re keeping it interesting without trying to reinvent the wheel and that self-imposed challenge to standout has clearly made a world of difference with this release.

When it comes down to it, there are no albums like Don’t Flush Me or groups capable of producing a sound similar to Nemes. Their lives and the choices they have collectively made have forged something wholly unique in a world of copycats and I dare anyone to not find it entertaining. The entire record can be stream and purchased on Bandcamp. Follow the link, take a listen, and see just how much better your day becomes as a result.

SCORE: 9/10
Review written by: James Shotwell (Follow him on Twitter)

• Author
• Recent Posts

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.

Latest posts by James Shotwell (see all)

• 2015’s Most Underrated Films - December 29, 2015
• Passing The Torch: The End Of An Era For UTG - December 1, 2015
• UTG PREMIERE: Before The Streetlights – “Private Browser” - November 26, 2015