Paint It Black - 'New Lexicon'

Senior slide-afflicted slackers would be well advised to turn to punk rocker, psychologist and generally cool dude Dr. Dan Yemin for inspiration. In addition to maintaining two practices in Ardmore and Paoli, he holds down gigs in three different bands. One band, Paint It Black, released its third album, New Lexicon, this month. In between New Lexicon and the group’s last album, Paradise, Yemin managed to put out eponymous efforts with his other projects, Lifetime and Armalite. What’s more, all four of these discs are awesome.

Compared to Lifetime and Armalite, Paint It Black is a straight ahead exercise in hardcore. While the group maintains some of Yemin’s punk-leaning tendencies, such as some zesty “whoas” here and there, for the most part, PIB is meant to grind bones and kick butts. Hardcore can get formulaic easily, so it's a testament to the band’s strength that its three albums all have their own identities.

Where CVA was a quick and hook-filled hardcore jam—thanks in part to guitarist/co-vocalist and Loved Ones frontman Dave Hause—and Paradise snapped ligaments like Slim Jims, New Lexicon aims for a more atmospheric vibe. That doesn’t mean the disc grinds less—it’s still a stool-kicker. However, the band tempers down the blistering bits with instrumental compositions from co-producer Oktopus from alt-rap group Dälek. For the most part, it works. Unlike, say, The Mars Volta circa Frances the Mute, Oktopus’ pieces never overwhelm the rock. Rather, they enhance it by adding a basis for comparison.

Yemin said in interviews prior to New Lexicon’s release that he was going for more of a Joy Division sound, which he doesn’t quite achieve here. There’s some synth underneath some of the tunes, and the lyrics do get pretty bleak, though, so it’s not like he’s totally off base. Album opener “The Ledge” boasts a catchy, moody bridge unlike anything the band has done before. The whole track is only a minute thirty, but it sounds so darn epic and uplifting despite being about rampant alcoholism.

Indeed, much of New Lexicon reads like a violent attempt at exorcism. “Four Deadly Venoms” argues for self-destruction, while “Past Tense, Future Perfect” denounces religion with lyrics like “God can’t touch us now; we’re out of his jurisdiction.” It’s dark but brilliant. A few tunes take a more positive slant, like “Check Yr Math,” a political rant worth checking out. “Talk minus action is still zero,” goes one memorable line.

The record marks several changes in Paint It Black’s style. It’s the first record with new drummer Jared Shavelson. While he doesn’t quite beat the skins as savagely as David Wagenshutz, he certainly does a great job. With production from Oktopus, the disc is certainly more experimental than anything the group has done before, although producer and punk icon J. Robbins keeps things clean but hardcore.

That said, some things will never change with Paint It Black or Yemin—the guys still know how to close an album. Like “Memorial Day” on Paradise or “Ostrichsized” on Lifetime’s Hello Bastards, “Shell Game Redux” is a zesty end to a tasty disc. Bearing a closer resemblance to Kid Dynamite than Paint It Black, it’s all about the “whoas.” Of course, this comparison doesn’t matter much, since I’m pitting greatness against greatness. Regardless, New Lexicon marks yet another triumph in hardcore writing from Yemin and crew.