Album Review: Fragile Simplistic – Ettison Clio

Simply put, Ettison Clio’s Fragile Simplistic was one of the most criminally overlooked releases of 2003. The band’s live dynamics translate well to disc, and thankfully, the stellar production work doesn’t affect the inherent strength in the band’s performances (a problem that a great many bands seem to have). There’s a little bit of everything here, from Brian Roop and JP Niemiec’s lush guitar intro on “Taylor’s Song,” to the loud-to-pretty-and-back-again rock flourish of “Othello Syndrome.” The album’s epic track, however, is the peculiarly titled, “Crocodiles and Chocolate Covered Ants,” which opens with Stephanie Gunther’s lulling vocals over a cascading bassline in a sweet, sweet bit of sound. By the time the track reaches it’s sugar sweet peak, the guitars have rolled through intricate rhythms that make Gunther’s vocal uprising seem as sweet as it is emotionally powerful. Good, good stuff from a band that will never get its proper due, thanks to the stigma attached to getting indirectly labeled as an ‘emo’ act. — Gary Blackwell