My optimism has gone to waste
Fantasizing on some short sighted vision
A dreary state
But when I close my eyes I see one route
A debt, a lie and a costume made of fools
A debt, a lie and costume made of fools
And all this time I've been a reaction
To constant waves of delusion
Outcomes are framing my thoughts of distractions
Zeros, ones and more illusions
My observations have been lost
To the bankers, the suits, to the ones that nullify the truth
But when I close my eyes I see more routes
People, love and no costumes made for you
People, love and no costumes made for you
And all this time I've been a reaction
To constant waves of delusion
Outcomes are framing my thoughts of distractions
Zeros, ones and more illusions
I can't stand to witness
Over and over and over in my mind
I can't stare at it
Over and over and over in my mind
Wash our hands of it
Over and over and over in my mind
Burn it down to ashes
Over and over and over in my mind...
about
Second Letter is only a year old, but its origins can be traced back to the earliest days of hardcore, and post-hardcore, on both coasts. All influential in their own right, in their particular scenes and beyond, the three core members of the band, Rob Haworth, Jim Kimball, and Pete Moffett, share a resume that easily qualifies them for “supergroup” status... but none of them would willingly admit that.
Collectively, the three core members have played with (or in): Inside Out, Government Issue, Wool, Retisonic, Farside, Hard Stance, Burning Airlines, No For An Answer, J Majesty, State of the Nation, and several more notable acts from the genre. While this CV is impressive in its own right, their list of collaborators in the studio, is equally as expansive and historically resonant. Depending on the recording location, Second Letter has been joined by Matt Kane (of Unwed), Chuck Treece (of McRad, Bad Brains), Fred Mascherino (of Breaking Pangea, Taking Back Sunday, Terrible Things) and Carin Smith (of Old Arrows) on different tracks.
For “Dead Emblems,” the band’s debut single, Second Letter is Haworth on guitar and vocals, Matt Kane on Guitar, Pete Moffett on drums, Jim Kimball on bass, and Carin Smith on piano. Sonically, this song is “huge rock” in its arrangements and dynamics, and could easily creep its way onto a lot of different playlists. Lyrically, the song is academically poetic, which should come as no surprise, given Dr. Haworth’s turn towards academia two decades ago, and that the band’s moniker harkens a chapter in one of Paulo Freire’s book. If you’re a fan of any number of the member’s previous bands, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.
credits
released November 6, 2015
Rob Haworth (Guitar/Vocals)
Matt Kane (Guitar)
Jim Kimball (Bass)
Pete Moffett (Drums)
Carin Smith-Beam (Keys)
Mixed by Michael Fanuele (Lavabed Recordings)
Mastered by Kim Rosen (Knack Mastering)
Keys recorded by Mike Bardzik (Noisy Little Critter)
Second Letter is Rob Haworth (Farside, State of the Nation), Pete Moffett (Burning Airlines, Wool), Chris Woodhead, Carin Smith, and John "Scoops" Hutchins.
This band. Hands down my favorite Discord band. They’ve had a powerful affect on my musical growth when I was young. And they’ve stayed there locked up in good nostalgia. Timeless. So I was worried to know they were doing anything new. PLEASE NO! I though to myself. Don’t let the new stuff suck and poison it! Well… Let’s say I’m thankful. A new chapter is born. Solid. guy_lane
I've been a fan of J's music for a very long time. Some of the best songs from the entirety of J's discography (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, and Office of Future Plans) are re-recorded here with very stripped-down instrumentation. J's singing voice only gets stronger and more eloquent with the passage of time.
The acoustic version Lorelei gives me goosebumps, and the recording of "68" nearly brought me to tears.
A must have for anyone who's a fan of J.s music. Stephen Reeder
Woozy, rollicking indie rock that's thick and humid, searching vocals set against pealing guitars. Also available on cassette. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 22, 2016
This imaginative release from Monty Cime blends Latin folk music and experimental noise for a sense of surreal nostalgia. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 30, 2023