In recent years, it's rare to hear an album so obviously scarred that bears such a coherent message. Adam Metz's first solo album, 2400 S. Klonopin Ave. (Baum Records), marries the mod-punk thunder of his former group, Bicycle Rider, to melodic influences of sixties chamber pop, alt.country and '70s AOR that have crept into his record collection in the years since the band's breakup.
2400 S. Klonopin Ave tells the story of a seemingly breezy twentysomething falling apart – his relationship, mental stability and career all ground to a halt within months in 2002, during the album's writing and earliest recordings – it's nearly a Big Star Third/Sister Lovers For the myspace set, set against the backdrop of a bleak Chicago winter. This was not the album Metz intended to write.
Bicycle Rider, the first band Metz truly led, was formed in the summer of '97, and recorded two albums, an early effort, When We Were Young, with now-legendary punk producer Matt Allison (Alkaline Trio) and All Traffic, Metz wrote and produced both albums, The group toured the Midwest as much as their classes and jobs would allow, opening for Alkaline Trio, Tuesday, The Broadways and the Strike, among many others. He was 22 when Bicycle Rider broke up in the summer of 2000. After kicking around Chicago, changing careers, and entering a serious new relationship, he began to write again. Then came 9/11 and a year's worth of panic attacks, and some really shitty medical advice.
"I had this doctor that pretty much put me on way too much of the wrong medication to control my panic symptoms," he said, "and my long-term relationship was falling apart at the same time. The combination of these two factors led to a pretty visceral record."
Produced by Metz and recorded with members of indie stalwarts Bright Eyes, Him and Baby Teeth as well as Chicago mod-stars Wes Hollywood and Mega Super Ultra vocalist Tom Shover, 2400 S. Klonopin Ave., captures the bleakness and disillusionment of two years of disappointment; the stunning mix by L.A.'s Dan Horne & Scott Ford (On The Speakers) brightens the dark corners.
Check out leadoff rocker, "I'll Think About It" or the piano-driven melancholia of "We Nearly Didn't Know," or even the psychedelic stomp of "Shooting From Way On High," to understand the diverse idioms in which he performs as a songwriter. The inclusion of two demos recalls memories of the song sketches on Fleetwood Mac's Tusk LP, in both their pop hooks and emotional power.
Both Bicycle Rider CDs will also be issued as a single CD later this month on Baum Records.
Check out the artist's website:
http://web.mac.com/ajmetzTrack List:
1. I'll Think About It
2. Driveby Coronation
3. We Nearly Didn't Know
4. Shooting From Way On High
5. Gonna Take A Walk
6. Don't Give It Away
7. It Shouldn't Be This Hard
8. The Better Side of Breaking Up
9. What Do You Think
10. The Completion
11. Oh, Diana
12. Invitation
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