The Myriad
You Can’t Trust a Ladder
Floodgate Records

Back in 2003, there was a myriad of underground rock bands emerging on labels like Tooth & Nail, Floodgate, and Northern Records. At the time, I was still caught up in the Praise and Worship craze started by the likes of Sonicflood, Third Day, and others. Because of my short sightedness, I may have been missing the point completely, and I certainly missed out on some “quality” music.

This year, with the debut of bands like The Myriad (Floodgate) I’m determined not to make the same mistake. Their debut You Can’t Trust a Ladder is a remarkable work of modern rock. The sound is very emotive with progressive rhythms and tight vocals. The band lists Radiohead, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Jeff Buckly as an influence, but has also told me that they draw from bands like Muse and Coldplay. My favorite tracks include “A New Language”, a message about finding hope, “When Fire Falls,” and the retro sounding “Perfect Obligation.”

The lyrics at this point, still hold some mystery because I was not able to find them printed anywhere. According to the press material, common themes on the album include heartache, doubt, faith, and romance. Another lesson learned is that just because I don’t fully understand the lyrics, or they don’t paint a pretty picture for me, does not mean it’s not worth further exploring. The Myriad write as a band, and the lyrics are challenging and interesting. I believe the band would like the listener to be able to draw from them something that’s individually relevant.

I wish I could say some cool quotable things about The Myriad, but it’s just too hard to do right now. For now I’ll just enjoy You Can’t Trust a Ladder at face (or ear) value and grow with the CD as I further realize the depth of the lyrics. The band is also very committed to keeping their web presence personal and up to date on MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/themyriad.

- Ken W.