Smile Empty Soul Displays Youth Within Rock
By Randy J. Klodz
Most blossoming bands are often compared to bands of which brought them on tour. Thus, Smile Empty Soul, an emerging California-based rock trio is often compared to Puddle of Mudd, an established rock band, but the members of Smile Empty Soul may have gotten an earlier start than that of the rockers that released the hit album “Come Clean” in 2001.
Smile Empty Soul—which includes Sean Danielsen (vocals, guitar), Ryan Martin (bass) and Derek Gledhill (drums)—has youth on its side. For example, the band’s frontman, Danielsen is 21. Puddle of Mudd didn’t have a hit single when lead singer/guitarist Wes Scantlin was barely of drinking age. Sure, Danielsen’s singing voice often becomes a bit frayed during heavy chorus parts, a la Scantlin, but the Puddle of Mudd comparisons stop there.
Smile Empty Soul released “Bottom of a Bottle” as the first single to the band’s self-titled debut that hit stores in May of last year, on Lava Records, and rock stations in Chicago, as well as many cities across the nation caught hold of the single. The band later released “Nowhere Kids” as the second single, and that track also caught on with rock radio. Seems there is still a market for distorted guitars and soaring guitars--a good sign for any rock fan.
“This is War,” the fourth track on the album includes acoustic guitars and a string section as Danielsen details a soldier’s journey toward serving his country through military efforts and attacking an enemy leader: “I drove in a car and flew in a plane / To come to your house and kick your door in / Now it's down to this, it's just you and me.”
The hard-rocking “Therapy” illustrates a young man in distress: “There's too much doubt in my mom's words / There's too much fear in the way she sees life / I wonder if I'm just like her / I wonder if I can make myself right.”
The album consists of 14 tracks totaling about 53 minutes of alternative rock, with each track distancing itself from the other songs on the album. Smile Empty Soul most recently toured with the popular band Fuel. Though the band isn’t currently on tour, fans can check the band’s Web site, www.smileemptysoul.com for updates.
| Smile Empty Soul | Photo: Micah Smith |
