A Record A Week: Always Outnumbered - When Potential Outweighs Ability

I threw this record on while I was playing Mario Galaxy, because I knew I'd be away this weekend and probably not have time other than that.



SIDE 1.
LONGER THE STRETCH
CAN IT'S RING PERIL
FADES TO GREY
JUST SAY THE WORDS
OUR LAST BOW

SIDE 2.
KATHRINE THE GRATEFUL
BURN YOURSELF ALIVE
NEVER LET GO
WITHOUT CONCERN
A BEGINNING AND AN END

Well, if this doesn't take me back, I'm not sure what would.

Always Outnumbered hailed from Burlington, Ontario, where I attended high school with a few of the members. In fact, you could say this band had its roots in my garage and basement. Prior to forming the Punk/Rock/Emo/Pop sound and hitching on drummer Ian Blackwood, the members were in a punk band called the Urinal Mints. The direction they were taking was above my talent level and they chose to regroup and form Always Outnumbered. I even remember a couple of these songs being in the works while I was still playing with them, though they took on a distinctly different feel.

The record has a distinct Burlington feel to it. If you take any specific time period, the bands from Burlington (or anywhere really), all have a similar sound. When I first started going to shows, ska was a big thing, then it was skate punk, which slowly started progressing to 'emo' (not in the traditional sense), then on to hardcore and whatever it is now. This record marks a transition from skate punk. With influences like Hot Water Music and Jimmy Eat World, as well as locals Grade, Jersey and Outspan.

Listening to this record left me feeling a little nostalgic a little old, and happy to have moved on from Burlington to a more expansive musical area. It was nice to have Burlington music scene as a starting place, but moreso experiencing everything I did after leaving.