CD REVIEW: The Final Stretch

By Amy Nichol Smith
asmith@themonitor.com

Summer is just around the corner and you're going to need those essential summer songs to blast on the drive to the Island or if you make your way out west. The Final Stretch have a few songs on their new EP This is Me Leaving that may make it on your iPod for that road trip.

The Final Stretch is a local band who has a familiar sound. Matt Garza's vocals immediately remind one of lead singer Claudio Sanchez of the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. Garza's voice is definitely an acquired taste and personally, it's not a taste I've acquired.

That is not to say that the CD is a bad one. Quite the opposite, in fact. The band's first EP stays upbeat for the most part and is a fun album.

The first track, "The Battle at Enopi Has Just Begun", is a guitar-driven song with an infectious chorus and makes it obvious the band has been influenced by punk, even if only a little.

While their second song, "Let's Leave Before I Fall Asleep", has some fun riffs and Garza attempts a slightly different singing style, the band's sound remains, but it's fairly repetitive.

Repetition is a theme with these boys, but they try to break it up a bit in each song by giving the guitars a rest and letting the drums be heard.

"For All the Non-Believers" is the best song with catchy hooks, smoother vocals and great music. If any song fits the quintessential summer song on the album, this is it.

It wasn't apparent there were keyboards being used until the fourth track, "To Our Lost Idols & Fathers". The song is decent, but needed better lyrics - especially in the chorus.

Over time, hopefully Garza's voice will mature and they'll broaden their sound. The Final Stretch has a good thing going and This is Me Leaving is just a promise of the future.

Best track: "For All the Non-Believers"
Worst track: "Let's Leave Before I Fall Asleep" 

3 out of 5 stars

Amy Nichol Smith is a freelance writer for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4420.