in rememberance - The Shape

Before mallratcore took over as the annoying sound du jour, you couldn't throw a rock in any given music community without hitting a few teenagers in tight t-shirts misappropriating the word "emo" to describe their new wave of cloyingly earnest, post-hardcore influenced pop-punk. On the surface, Sevierville's THE SHAPE seemed to be a casualty of this unfortunate trend, but their indomitable work ethic (they toured the country several times, playing 300+ shows in three years) and surplus of talent quickly set them apart from those who would aspire to be their peers, leaving them one of the area's premiere live and recorded acts. Their listenability also owed much to superior influences, sidestepping the pervasive Vagrant/Drive-Thru sound in favor of the more mannered tones of Polyvinyl's early emo acts, particularly the bands of Bob Nanna, whom vocalist/guitarist Steve Gaskell seems to channel at times. The band moved between Johnson City, Sevierville, and (very briefly) Iowa in search of wider success and signed with Missing Words Records out of California, who released their Breakin' In The Schoolhouse LP in 2003. A self-released 3 song EP followed in 2005 shortly before the band called it quits. (Three of the four members reunited in late 2005 with Mouth Movements, casting the same enthusiasm towards slightly matured musical goals.) The Shape's music has always been a bit of a guilty pleasure for a music fan who feels like he ought to know better, but it's a pleasure nonetheless.

Discography: a self-titled demo; Breakin' In The Schoolhouse LP; 3 EP.

RIYL: Braid, Hey Mercedes, American Football

MP3: "Hang Myself With The Good Towels (Demo)" (4:24)
MP3: "Clever Disguise" (5:22)
MP3: "Brain Busted" (3:13)