Review by 香腸 張
Sightseeer by Air to Breathe: A Raw, Unfiltered Punch to the Ears
Alright, let’s get one thing straight—this ain’t your polished, overproduced rock album. Sightseeer from Air to Breathe is gritty, stripped-down acoustic rock that feels like someone sat you down in a smoky bar and said, “Listen up.” Released back in 2006 on Brilliant Pop Records (yeah, ironic name for this kind of raw sound), it's got Toby Perez’s heart all over it. Dude wrote the songs, sang his lungs out, played guitar like he was trying to break strings, and didn’t care if you liked it or not. That’s what makes it hit so damn hard.
Let’s talk tracks because not everything here lands perfectly—but when it does? Holy crap, it sticks. Take "Driver Keep Driving" for example. This track slaps you awake with its relentless rhythm and Perez’s raspy vocals. It’s not fancy—it’s just honest. You can almost picture Ian Brooks banging away at those drums like he’s mad at 'em while Jason Guilliani chimes in with backing vocals that feel more like shouts of frustration than harmony. And handclaps? On a rock song? Yeah, they pull it off somehow. It’s messy but magnetic, like watching a car crash unfold right in front of you—you can’t look away.
Then there’s "Hiding From the Law," which hits different. This one creeps up on you slow, almost lazy, until the Rhodes keyboard kicks in courtesy of Bill Nephew. Dude knows how to layer sounds without drowning them; it’s subtle but sharp enough to cut through the noise. The lyrics are cryptic as hell, but isn’t that the point? It’s less about telling you a story and more about making you feel uneasy, hunted even. By the end, you’re left wondering who’s chasing who—and why the hell you care so much.
Now, I gotta say, this album ain’t perfect. Some parts drag, and yeah, maybe Toby could’ve reigned himself in once or twice. But screw perfection—it’s boring anyway. What Sightseeer lacks in polish, it makes up for in guts. It’s an unapologetic middle finger to anyone expecting something safe.
Here’s the kicker though: listening to this record feels like finding an old Polaroid in your pocket years later. You don’t remember taking the photo, but man, it takes you back. Maybe that’s why I keep coming back to these tracks—they remind me of places I haven’t been yet, people I’ll never meet. Or maybe I’m just tired and rambling. Either way, crank this sucker loud and see where it takes you.
