Sincere Engineer- Rhombithian CD

Deanna Belos has been a fixture in the Chicago punk scene since she was in Junior High, attending shows, singing along, and raising hell in general. But she was more than just a face in the crowd, Deanna was a radiant friend to all, and at some point she picked up a guitar and made a different contribution the Chicago underground scene: her own music under the name Sincere Engineer. Over the last couple years we've encouraged her to keep writing songs and she surprised us all by assembling a great band and recording an impressive album. Her debut, "Rhombithian", was Produced by Matt Jordan (You Blew It!, Dowsing, etc.) and pairs the sounds of Chicago punk and the youthful Midwest "emo revival" movement. No one is more excited about music than Sincere Engineer, and Deanna plans to play a lot of shows and bring her infectious energy to the rest of the planet in support of "Rhombithian".

01. Corn Dog Sonnet No. 7
02. Ceramic Tile
03. Overbite
04. Screw Up
05. Shattering
06. Here’s Your Two Dollars
07. 1K Rats
08. Candle Wax
09. Let You Down
10. Keep You Company
11. Ghosts In The Graveyard

Sincere Engineers Rhombithian is an excellent debut. The album strikes an interesting balance between the gruff melodic punk you'd expect from a Red Scare artist and the sonic complexity of the emo revival genre. The album's strongest point is that complexity. It imbues the album's best songs with a uniqueness that sets them apart and pulls the listener in. From the interesting guitar and drum pattern in the second verse of "Ceramic Tile" to the brief riff that leads into the hectic conclusion of "Overbite" to the Tiny Moving Parts-esque riff that drives beneath and compliments "Here's Your Two Dollars", Rhombithian is filled with interesting touches that stand out without distracting from the energy and emotion. Buoyed by a great mix, providing clarity without feeling too overproduced, you can get lost in these little masterful touches. 

But great composition isn't all the album provides. Deanna Belos's lyrics are emotional and relatable. The album isn't the most thematically complex, but you won't care because it packs a punch where it counts. It's hard not to identify with the feeling behind "I watched the clouds roll in/ and you're not far/ but you're so distant" ("Here's Your Two Dollars") or "I kept thinking things would get easier/ I kept thinking I would get better" ("Overbite", my personal favorite). Choruses on the album are particularly strong, with Belos's strong vocals driving them home with gusto. Sing along opportunities abound and after a few listens you'll find yourself pulled in. 

Overall Rhombithian is a strong album that I think is one of the best of the year. It's interesting, emotional, energetic, and provides some melodic punk gems that will get stuck in your head (and you won't mind). It's an especially impressive achievement for a debut full-length.