the sparrow's feet: unstoppable party machine

Josh Staples is some sort of musical mastermind. I think he has been involved in every single band to come out of california in the last 10 years in some way. but most notably, he used to play bass and sing backup vocals for The Velvet Teen, but after the release of Cum Laude! in 2006, he left the band to work full-time on his own project, called The New Trust. and now rumor has it that he has recently rejoined The Velvet Teen on bass duty, which means that he is now in two awesomely awesome bands, full time.

regardless, the New Trust can theoretically best be described as indie-punk-emo-awesome. their first album, Dark is the Path Which Lies Before Us, is faster, louder, happier, and much catchier. it recalls old school emo such as Knapsack, or maybe Fall Out Boy's older material, in its earnestness, undeniably catchy melodies, and borderline ridiculous lyrics. Josh Staples' shouted plaintive, reedy vocals wouldn't sound out of place on an early Promise Ring album either. my favorite song off this one is "Wake Up, It's the Nineties." (you will see why when you hear the lyrics.)

their second album, Get Vulnerable, while similar, is somewhat of a different creature. I haven't listened to it enough yet to get a feel for it entirely, but from what I can tell, it's darker. bleaker. more bombastic. more atmospheric. Josh's vocals have dropped like an octave lower; there are fewer choruses shouted in harmony; the guitars are harsher. this album sounds like a band that has grown up and taken their bitterness with them. so far, I love it. my favorite song on this album is "Fast Asleep in Her Arms."

here's a video for the song "All Things Are Moving Towards Their End" from the New Trust's first EP. it is, dare I say it, awesome.