THE TERMS
by John Frank

When you think of the places for a rock band to be born in, New Orleans isn’t usually at the top of that list. However, coming from a place with so many different music styles present isn’t always a bad thing. The Terms have found the perfect mix of pure energy rock and the relaxed southern style twangs. Without even a full length release they have already started to make a name for themselves. The Terms recorded a song for a promo video for LSU and shot some footage for a new web based video distribution company.

I was able to catch them play a couple of their first Los Angeles shows, and was beyond impressed. While the record sounds good and polished, their live show blows it away. Ben Labat (lead vocals and guitar) carries so much of a presence on stage that it seems as if he was born for this life. While the band has replaced a member, it is not apparent. Their show is seamless and carries the crowd energy from the opening note.

The music is surprisingly great. I am definitely not a fan of country, and am not usually moved by southern rock. However, “Small Town Computer Crash” blows my mind. The opening chords of “Neutron Bomb” (the first single) completely set up the album by providing an energy that no one can resist the urge to love. The album does slow down a bit after this, which could leave some listeners wanting feeling drained. However the final version of the disc will have two new songs, one being “Welcome to the Now (Evo Devo)” which is a very energetic, electric college rock anthem (written for LSU); this change will undoubtedly add the missing piece to this album. There aren’t a lot of standout tracks here, as the album is full of great tracks. It is definitely interesting to hear some of the added percussion on songs such as “Gulf of Tonkin”, as it changes the sound without really disrupting anything. The lyrics are very deep, but maintain a fluidness to them that is reminiscent of pop songs. Look out for a DVD from these guys and get a hold of it if you can. They have great personalities that really come through in the behind the scenes footage, and provides a good background on the guys themselves.

The Terms is definitely the best new band I have heard in a long time. They manage to bridge the gap between fans of different genres and even different generations. This album is one that a baby boomer parent can enjoy just as much as the twenty-something college kid. The final release of “Small Town Computer Crash” is scheduled for mid April, and will be worth every minute of waiting. The band should be touring over the summer and into fall, which is not to be missed. While there is still a lot of time left in the year, I have no problem picking these guys as the best new band of 2006, with their debut being one of the top albums overall. Raw energy, fresh sound, fluid melodies…what isn’t to love about these southern boys?

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