Amber Pacific

Amber Pacific’s latest offering is one of those records that bring out an inner dichotomy that is every bit as confounding as it is uncomfortable. The issue here is an ideological one, as making a firm decision here would mean one of two things: 1) renouncing my self-imposed status as a musical elitist, or 2) retaining the “elitist” tag while missing out on a young band that plays highly infectious and inspiring indie pop.

For those who might consider the aforementioned genre tag vilifying, let it be said that Amber Pacific does it with a sense of conviction that sets them apart from their more media-savvy peers. There is nothing earth-shattering about the riffs of guitarist Will Nutter; they’ve all been used by A Simple Plan or MxPx. Vocalist Matt Young isn’t bringing anything unique to the table either, as his crooning bears more than a passing resemblance to Jeff Caudill of Gameface. The rhythm section of Greg Strong (bass) and Dango (drums) exists primarily as a foundation; it is not there for the sake of dazzling audiences with their best Jaco Pastorius or Neil Peart impressions. This is indie pop, where everything comes down to what’s best for the song. If there are sneering musicians in the audience who are waiting to mock the simplicity of the proceedings, they should kindly be asked to sneer elsewhere.

In naming this album’s stand-out tracks, I find myself in a quandary. It’s not that Amber Pacific doesn’t write good songs; it’s just that their hook-laden delivery and general adherence to formula can make each song sound a lot like the one that came before it. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, as practically every genre has it’s purveyors of synonymy. Even supposed “musician’s bands” tend toward stylistic similarity, so Amber Pacific should not be penalized for it. I tend to think that we all have times when we would prefer a smooth set of melodic tunes that coast along without a hitch rather than a series of angular riffs with half-time breakdowns and jagged stop-start rhythms.

As for their artistic vision, this is a band that seemingly prides itself on a sense of communion with its listeners. They inspire optimism and perseverance not only through their music, but through direct communication with their fans. These elements form the cohesive theme of Truth In Sincerity, and the lyrics serve as an excellent reflection of what Amber Pacific stands for and why.

In summation, it seems appropriate to evaluate this album with a balance of compliment and criticism. On the latter side, I find Amber Pacific’s reluctance to stray outside well-established lines a bit frustrating. They are rather content to play at an upper mid-pace tempo with all the choruses, fills, and shout-outs in the most predictable places. But my frustration can also be taken as a compliment, because these guys are actually very good musicians who are capable of doing more. This is most apparent in the riffs and licks of guitarist Will Nutter, who steals the spotlight from singer Matt Young on tracks such as “Temporary” and “Fall Back into My Life.” With this very competent duo fronting them, Amber Pacific has great things ahead of them.

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