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i have devised a way, where i don't care what you say.

criteria "the coincidence"
why haven't you heard of criteria? you should have, i'll tell you that. but for some reason stephen pedersen (formerly of cursive and the white octave) didn't garner much buzz with this album, which just shocks me. i mean i KNOW there's an audience for this out there. the lyrics on criteria's debut album are pretty much what the kids are calling "emo" i won't deny that, but this album is just rock music. and oh the guitars! this record takes great steps in restoring my faith in guitars with that "modern rock" sound. pedersen layers hooks on top of hooks on top of more hooks. this song kills, and sets the perfect pace for one of the most underheard albums of 2003, en garde, which doesn't have a weak track on it.
--from en garde [2003] // official site // lyrics

criteria "rescue rescue"
while 9 of the 10 tracks on en garde sound like "the coincidence" (which is not to say they aren't great, they just maintain the pace and feel of it), this one is completely different. the drum machine hits like xiu xiu, the verses he croaks like robert smith on ether, and it all layers and layers until there's no more sound to fill. i'd go for a whole album that sounds like this too.
--from en garde [2003] // lyrics