Demo Two by Near Life Experience: A Rock Gem That’s Still Kicking (Sort Of)
Let’s get one thing straight—rock albums from the early 2000s don’t always age like fine wine. Some turn into vinegar, others into that weird juice at the back of your fridge you’re too scared to taste. But Demo Two by Near Life Experience? It’s more like a slightly stale bag of chips—you know, the kind you crush up and sprinkle on everything because nostalgia hits different. Released in 2002 via Not On Label (which sounds suspiciously like something made up during a late-night recording session), this album punches above its weight for an indie rock effort.
Now, let’s talk tracks. “Lava On My Tongue” is the first reason I haven’t forgotten about this record. The title alone deserves an award for being both gross and awesome—a total mood if you’ve ever bitten into jalapeño poppers without realizing they were extra spicy. Musically, it’s got this raw, scrappy energy that feels like someone just handed the band instruments five minutes ago and said, “Go nuts.” And honestly? That works. There’s no overthinking here, just pure unfiltered rock vibes with a guitar riff so sticky it’ll cling to your brain like gum under a school desk.
Then there’s “Lisa Beneath The Earth,” which sounds like what would happen if Alice Cooper decided to write a song about gardening but got distracted halfway through. Dark, moody, and kinda haunting, it stands out as the brooding older sibling of the bunch. You can practically hear the dirt being shoveled while Lisa whispers secrets from below—or maybe that’s just me losing my mind after listening to it on repeat. Either way, it’s memorable enough to make you go, “Wait…what did I just listen to?”
As for the rest of the gang—“Porcelain,” “The Turtledove Syndrome,” and “Black Skies”—they round things out nicely without stealing the spotlight. They’re solid tunes, sure, but not the ones you’ll be humming in the shower tomorrow morning.
So yeah, Demo Two isn’t perfect. It’s rough around the edges, occasionally messy, and probably recorded in someone’s garage. But hey, sometimes imperfection is exactly what makes something stick. Like those VHS tapes you refuse to throw away or that questionable haircut photo you secretly love.
Here’s the kicker though: Near Life Experience didn’t blow up after this album. Weird, right? With tracks like these, you’d think they’d at least get invited to open for Nickelback or something. Maybe they’re all living normal lives now—bartenders, accountants, dog walkers—who knows? All I know is, if you stumble across Demo Two, give it a spin. Just don’t blame me when “Lava On My Tongue” gets stuck in your head for days.
Final verdict? 7/10. Solid effort, dudes. Now where’s my lava-flavored soda?
