REVIEWS:
"In a world that keeps getting more and more crowded, Camber finds room to breathe on "Beautiful Charade." With their high-rise vocal harmonies, satisfying guitar textures, and down-low rhythms, the NYC foursome carves out a place with space. On "First," vocalist Barry Lott sings of bittersweet understanding, while the band runs a patient race with tension and gritty guitar lightness. Always careful to betray your expectations, they surf a smooth wave of hope and frustration, then tie it in a knot with tricky rhythms and disorienting downturns." - Alternative Press
"Somewhere between Sunny Day Real Estate and The Promise Ring, however many inches that might be, sits Camber, boldly taking a seat and claiming their place in the emo-core all-American line-up. Carving out an identity amongst such close company would seem almost impossible, but Camber has met the challenge and recorded a beautifully original record." - PillowFight
"Beautiful Charade finds Camber driving distorted guitars, dirgy tempos, tortured vocals and painfully-resigned introspection to the edge. Although the band gazes down over the ledge, it never quite jumps. Perhaps the line 'I'm burning, so clean' best describes Camber's particular brand of angst. What sets this band apart is the incredible vocal style. It is wrist-slitting. Even those who are lukewarm about emo-core need to check out Beautiful Charade. Camber are one of the best bands ever to work in the genre..." - Seattle Rocket
"Both melancholic and uplifting, one minute tugging at your heart-strings and the next pushing your heart out of your chest with sheer feel-good exuberance. Vocals that touch you deep inside and harmonies that make you good to feel alive." - Fracture
"Camber does such a fine job crafting emo-core where planning and painstaking effort are the key. The songs are gorgeous and there's not a hair out of place." - Aiding And Abetting
"Camber wears its repressed rage like a badge of honor...gritty and sweetly despairing." - Alter World
"The power on Beautiful Charade comes from Camber's ability to write effective and not so simple rock songs. Engaging songwriting and performance." - Magnet
"Camber has mastered the delicate art of dynamics that is so central to emo-ness. The first track 'Hollowed-Out' has one of those euphoria-inducing choruses." - SnackCake
"Beautiful Charade is downright genius. Rock and roll with feeling, which is something we don't see much anymore." - Pitchfork
"Camber roll blissfully around with depth of feeling, the music is wonderfully crafted. Put your feet up and let them ease your woes. No one can deny the quartet's thoughtful, sensitive prowess." - Kerrang!
"The melodies are lifting in the verses and build tension toward intense choruses. At other times the textures are more subtle with an air of dreamy despair. Always cleverly crafted, never boring, and never a shortage of melodic hooks." - Skratch
"Often illuminating and seldom predictable, Camber's resonating, emo-core blends post-grunge aggression with blustery melodicism. Expansive arrangements are turned upside down and inside out without losing the flow of the song at hand. Vocalist Barry Lott teeters at the edge of a nervous breakdown, sometimes emoting with the same urgency and determination Bono once did during his early U2 days. Lott's dramatic wails linger alongside dissonant guitars, raucous drums, and vibrating sonic textures." - Aquarian Weekly
LYRICS:
Hollowed-Out
takes me down underneath its weight. it is my master. i will drown underneath its sea it spells disaster. underneath its sea all's lost and found. until it's swallowed whole what's yours no way to ever know how much this can weigh. hollowed-out and broken. feeling i have lost control. and everything is gray. my dark cloud hovers overhead. constant companion. wrapped in dark shroud. lie alone in bed bottomless canyon. lie alone in bed all's lost and found. until it's swallowed whole what's yours no way to ever know how much this can weigh. hollowed-out and broken. feeling i have lost control. i am so tired of this conscious sleep. lethargic, low and uninspired. sinking ever deep. wallow in wet cement. i'm mired. crush me underneath it all. pull me from the weight that squeezes down
First
sat all alone in your old room today. because you have a new one now far away. the past the reason that i pushed this too far. and maybe passed on my inherited scar. i wonder if you'll make the same mistake. i wonder if the choice will be yours to make. it is the reason that you've grown up too fast. to learn that even beautiful things don't last. now you're gone. you were the first good thing i'd done. the grass grows greener on the other side. the space between your mom and me grows ever wide. it is the reason that you've grown up too fast. to learn that even beautiful things don't last. but now you're gone. you were the first good thing i'd done. i know just how it feels. your world crashing away. will this ordeal mean you'll go my way. i've never felt this strong. when your eyes shine i start to wonder if i can give you what you're asking for. more
Beautiful Charade
sometimes i watch you when you sleep. watch your eyes move while you dream. you look so far away. your pretty mask burns up inside to hold monsters at bay. this city tears your soul away. you wonder if it's worth the stay. i've been feeling that way. our glimpse behind the brick facade reveals despair, decay. this beautiful charade. we were the last to know it. leaders of the parade. we were the last to know. i know exactly what you'll say even before you speak. and i know just what you are. but i can't see the gathering storm that changes sun to gray. this beautiful charade. i was the last to know it. leader of the parade. you were the last to know. you always know so much
Marking The Days
she sits alone just waiting to go. how long 'til she feels the warmth of his strong hands. how long. i don't ever call. can't find the time. rationalize my stall each time. she marks the days just waiting to fly. how long 'til she feels the touch of his gaunt hands. how long. i'm always there in thoughts at least. assuage my guilt. still she is just so lonely. i am so tired i could die. sick of promises. no hope of golden years and lasting love. how long 'til my sweet old heart will break. how long must i be so lonely
Odds & Ends
we lie awake with brains in overdrive. these odds and ends. tossing and turning lights no clearer path for us. nervous. i am too. emotional suicide, it's suicide. sailing into view our eyes are open wide. we arm ourselves with rags and turpentine. on needles and pins. painted in corners leaves no quick escape for us. pensive. i am too. emotional suicide, it's suicide. bailing into blue skies that are open wide. waiting. poised standing on the ledge just to see who'll jump off first. so much time wanting. so much time waiting for this thing to go somewhere
Clean
i'm guilty. i've got closets full of bones i try to hide. really try. i know what you don't know can't hurt you. but i'm burning up inside. unburdened. so clean. come clean. that clean. i warn you that all this stuff locked up in here could explode out. then you're on fire. so hungry for that decompression. confession will provide. unburdened. so clean. come clean. that clean. i know all the answers
206
(instrumental)
Question Marks
we fall in love. happy as clams. play out our roles. bleed until there's nothing left. we fall in love. happy as mud. play out our parts. tear each other down with no regrets. question our sanity each time we say that there is nothing wrong with us. question our needs every time that we stay. don't understand what's wrong with us. we fall in love. happy as bugs. play out our hands. feed until there's nothing left. we fall in love. happy as shit. play out our games. wear each other down with no regrets
Sever
stumble over words. open wounds escape i seek. walk through open door. you are strong but i am weak. first time tell the truth. open eyes confirm worst fears. falling on your floor. i love you through a flood of tears. so sad that we are through. alone always. run away broken. behind walls tremble deep inside. hide. last time touch your face. fight closing eyes sun still appears. falling down your stairs. i hate you through a flood of tears. know i hated myself too. alone always. your hands tremble. try to hold nothing left inside. hide. i cannot believe that this is true. complete demise of me and you. feel something real has died. first everything then nothing left inside. hole inside. feel like something real has died. hold back love. hole inside. sever strings that tied. no love left
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