Good Men by Audio-OK, a Brainstorm of Musical Insight

Good Men by Audio-OK says, “Here I am.  I haven’t made up my mind.”  This declaration from “Between the Lines” seems to sum up the style of the album.  In a most unique way, several songs are not sung, except for “Higher” and “Gush” which contain a punk style ranting.  For the rest, Audio-OK talks through the songs as if musically blogging their thoughts rather than playing in a refined fashion.  A few songs display raw guitar riffs as can be found on Nirvana’s Bleach.  “Daily Routine” is an intense musical Jekyll and Hyde, vacillating between casual nose-in-the-air apathy and agitated throbbing-vein fervor.  

The album’s seven short songs come across as notes jotted down while driving – brief snippets of insight to be saved for subsequent rumination, and later weaved into comprehensive thoughts.  Most intriguing is “Gush” with its call-and-answer guitar playing, followed by Sonic Youth style squeaks.  Audio-OK might be undecided, but they retain the thrill of brainstorming ideas flashing on the page.

Myriah Christine, Contributor

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