here is just something about the phrase "emo-core" that makes me want to cringe every time I hear it. It's equivalent to taking my fingernails and scratching them on the chalkboard. I really don't know what it is; maybe it's the fact it is supposed to stand for highly emotional music. Any band with this label attached usually can be summed up with three words: teenagers, suburbia and clueless. Well, maybe I am being a little too harsh.


Weezer is considered the bastard father of many of these bands including Jimmy Eat World, Ozma and The Get Up Kids. However, I truly love Weezer. Or did before the horrendous "Green Monster" came and took over Rivers Cuomo's feeble, despondent mind. These bands that have cropped up playing "Weezer-etched tunes" just don't seem to want to recognize a world outside of their bedroom. Such cluttered lyrics and concepts do not peak my pubescent mind. I guess I just am not that emotional for it.


Schatzi is another one of these bands in the emo-core enclave. I had heard good things about this band from certain publications and by way of mouth. So, when I found their EP Death of the Alphabet within the bargain bin at my local music store I pounced on the opportunity to buy it for a buck.


This EP contains about 6 original tunes on it, a couple being mixes over previous tracks. The lead track, Death of the Alphabet, really starts this disc off respectively. It's a pleasant song with all the catches and hooks of a pop song along with a female voice over and xylophone introduction. However, after that, it just all goes downhill. These songs are all contrived off the same premise, heavy drums and boisterous, rhyming lyrics that go nowhere. For example, on track four "The Spider Smells Disaster" part of the song states..."not like you/ perfect shoes/ I'll be watching when you lose...burning into dust/ throw my hands up in disgust." Some of these songs, however, do mix things up slowing down to a rhythmic ballad on such tracks as 'By the Silvery Moon.' However, these are too short and far between to save this album. Many of these songs just run together under the same prescription...not branching out far enough in any other direction.


Schatzi is very heavy into the emo-core genre of the late 90's and early 2000 decade. It probably doesn't matter what I state about this band because they will probably make it on the basis of a younger teenage-punk audience. The band is supposed to have their first LP out sometime in the New Year. If you're into emo-core, take a stab at these guys. I wouldn't bother with this EP, but maybe the new disc will continue where track one left off.