Abandoned Pools is one of those rare bands that baffles me with their lack of mainstream commercial success. These fuckers (or this fucker, perhaps) should be big. Huge, even. Tommy Walter writes songs that are short, catchy, and moving, and are at the same time complex, layered, well crafted, and original. I haven't heard a rock album this good in years. This shit's the real deal, yo.

I suppose if I had to compare them to a band that has seen mainstream commercial success, it might be A Perfect Circle. And, coincidentally enough, APC brain-boy Billy Howerdel guests on one track. The bands are similar in that they're both relatively pop-rock - short songs with definite hooks. Their songs are also both heavily layered, very emotional, and make use of a fairly wide range of instruments. The biggest difference is that APC material tends to be a good bit darker than Abandoned Pools.


Armed to the Teeth is actually better than Pool's debut, Humanistic, which I'd've thought to be a pretty tricky feat. That was a pretty fucking fine disc, but, on the average, Armed outdoes it. The only thing Humanistic had that this one is lacking is a killer single (e.g. The Remedy). Every single song on Armed is fantastic, but none of them really stand head and shoulders above the rest.

All in all, though, still a fine fucking album. It's rare for a band that I like to be both awesome and accessible, but Abandoned Pools is just that. Pick this one the fuck up.