Saosin - Come Close [dvd/ep]

Band: Saosin
Album: Come Close [dvd/ep]
Genre: Emo Rock
Label: Capitol

Tracks:
1. It's Far Better To Learn [Live]
2. It's So Simple [Live]
3. Voices [Live]
4. You're Not Alone [Live]
5. I Never Wanted To [Live]
6. 3rd Measurement in C [Piano Version]
7. Mookie's Last Christmas [Acoustic]
8. You're Not Alone [Piano Version]

In the modern day times of album leaks, file sharing, and the general public's slow turn away from buying albums, bands have been realizing that touring is the best way to make an attempt to stay both relevant and financially afloat. Almost no band can say the have mastered the art of touring, but Saosin may be quite close to perfecting this often hard and wearing facet of the music industry. Over their now five year existence, the band has had 3 releases [two eps and a full length] the latest being released in November 2006. Why so few releases? Well that, dear readers, would be because Saosin [pronounced "say-ocean"] is in a constant state of touring and through doing so have developed one of the most loyal following in the music scene today. not many bands, especially in the current "scene" can claim to have fans loyal enough to repeatedly see them over the course of multiple years without a single new track being added to their library. The result of all this touring and its influence on the band's overall success has led to , "Come Close," a live dvd/ep to be released March 11th via Capitol Records. The dvd is from a 2007 show in Philadelphia which was filmed in high-def while the ep is a mixture of live recordings and alternate versions of previous songs. This review will focus on the ep [as the dvd was not available when this review was written].

There has always been a problem with live albums/eps and that is that the draw for new fans is very little. Most people unfamiliar with a band are highly unlikely to buy their live album [unless your releasing, "Frampton Comes Alive"], but that is just common sense. So, in order to market such releases, you must go after your already brewing fan base and in Saosin's case, that's exactly what they've done. The ep includes five live recordings of the band's fan favorites as well as three alternate versions of previously released songs. The live recordings are of the highest quality I have ever heard. It sounds like the show took place inside a sound booth and that is just amazing. I personally have never been that into Saosin, but this recording made me want to be at the show as well as making me wish I knew the words so that I could join in with the crowd in my headphones. "It's Far Better to Learn," has never sounded better in my opinion than on this record and I think that's quite a feat considering your comparing a studio recording to a live recording, but hey, Saosin didn't perfect touring by playing horribly live. The alternate versions are a welcomed twist for the band as a piano version of, "3rd Measurement in C," showcases Cove's vocals perfectly. The other two tracks, an acoustic version of, "Mookie's Last Christmas," and a piano version of, "You're Not Alone," close out the ep both perfectly and in a subtle way by once again showcasing the vocals of Cove, but by also showing the band's range and through this leaves the listener desiring another 5-7 tracks just to see what is to come.

For being someone who never thought Saosin was anything to go crazy over, I was skeptical of this ep at first. However, now that I have sat with it for awhile, I have seen the light and am now converted to the world of Saosin. This ep is, as I'm sure the dvd will be, a perfect showcase of the band's musical ability, songwriting, and love for what they do. If only the music scene of today had more bands with the determination of Saosin, maybe the music industry as whole would be in a much better situation. Let's just hope other bands have pens and paper ready because notes should be taken, Saosin is a force to be reckoned with and I'm sure they are open to any challengers that may come their way.

GRADE: 9/10