All or nothing seems to be the mantra to live by where New Jersey blues/experimental group Trophy Scars are concerned. Ever since their formation in 2002, the band have made a point of exploring the darker underside of life, love and romance in order to come up with a unique spin on their subject matter.
Their newest offering, Holy Vacants, is no exception to this. The album started life as a 35-page screenplay treatment and was initially planned as a double album. Instead, Holy Vacants offers up 12 tracks which in the bands own PR spin tell the story of: “mythology, ancient religion and conspiracy theory surrounding the Nephilitic gene.”
It follows the story of two lovers who have found the fountain of youth and the formula for an ancient Egyptian perfume called Qeres. It all sounds like an excellent format for the next TV ratings winner but as a concept for an album, does it actually work?
Well, in places yes. Album opener ‘Extant’ has some good ideas and the bluesy elements of all the songs are a real strongpoint. However, lyrically the album is harder to swallow at times. Lines such as: “you were feasting on the body of an angel in a taxi cab” from ‘Extant’ or: “There’s no heaven or hell / this house is it for us both / let the haunting forever begin” from ‘Chicago Typewriter’ are passed off in such a way that the concept behind them becomes somewhat harder to swallow.
In truth, it all seems a bit too teen-angsty to be pulled off with any degree of panache. Which is a shame as the songs, musically at least, are big, bold and production wise sound great. But it isn’t until the mid-way point that the album seems to catch a break. ‘Burning Mirror’ drives forward with a pulsing drum line and soaring chorus – though it does still fall foul to clumsy lyrics – all can just about be forgiven in that bluesy guitar break two-thirds of the way through the song.
‘Gutted’ also opens with a glorious bluesy guitar and gorgeous piano parts but it’s not enough to save the album as a whole. Whilst not an all-out failure, Holy Vacants fails to deliver on its promises. Offering up conceptual albums, packed with story arcs and prime-time ideas, may satisfy Trophy Scars singer Jerry Jones’ need to be creative but unless it’s being delivered in the proper way it won’t ever translate to music.
As a soundtrack to a TV show or film, Holy Vacants may have just worked. The right broad strokes are there but it’s in the minute details that it falls short. Brave? Yes. Bold? Yes? Conceptually out there? Absolutely. Unfortunately though, the concept seems mired in a wishy-washy world of misplaced lyrics and too many ideas. Holy Vacants or just plain vacant?
Sometimes you have to stand back and enjoy, when you listen to something with the intent to judge you can pick all the imperfections out. With the pure intent to enjoy this album is quite good.