Posted: October 27th , 2009
Contributed By: Nick

	Purchase @ iTunes Default – ‘Comes and Goes’ Release Date: September 29th, 2009 on EMI (Canada only) A U.S. release date has yet to be determined.
	Default are: Dallas Smith (vocals) Jeremy Hora (guitar) Dave Benedict (bass) Danny Craig (drums)

Knowledge: After reaping the quick benefits of “Wasting My Time” off their platinum-selling debut album ‘The Fallout’, Default never got close to repeating those sales numbers with their next two releases. Although their fourth effort ‘Comes and Goes’ is already out in Canada, a decision regarding the record’s U.S. destiny has yet to be reached.

Turn-Ons: Default stand tall with the ironically billed “Turn it On”, a beefy, assertive reintroduction to the world buoyed by tight accentuation and cannon-like toms. “Turn it On” is full of quirks from its breakdown to its solos, making it undoubtedly the first song off the band’s current live set-list; if not, please let me know so I can be surprised. “All Over Me” steadies the trail with a punky, boyish sound-think Default on a heavy dose of Sugarcult/Yellowcard. Regardless, I think “All Over Me” is good enough with a fussy enough hook to squeeze its way on to multiple formats of rock radio. Say hello to “Goodbye” because my friends, it don’t get much better than this. 3 minutes of pure rock ‘n roll blitzkrieg, “Goodbye” blows you away, leaving you in one energized, pumped up state of recovery. Melancholic and earnest, “Show Me” takes a first-hand glimpse into Default’s rookie effort ‘The Fallout’, while still maintaining enough versatility to fit right in with their remaining trio of records. “Hold Onto You” is driven by a strong rhythm section able to truly harness the tune’s feel-good vibe. With that shaker in the forefront, “Hold Onto You” pans the channels out evenly while providing an uncanny amount of balance and depth just by being there. Dallas Smith weeps dolefully throughout the jilted, yet serene “Comes and Goes”. A song that shares a few things with Weezer’s “Undone” aka “The Sweater Song”, “Comes and Goes” is a vulnerable tune laced together perfectly by its humble choruses. Penultimate rocker “Fascination” is a welcomed change of pace, strapped with aggressive vocals, sharp guitars, and choruses that retain the pop-sensibilities of ‘Comes and Goes’ as a whole as well as the manic temperament of this one. For the final salvo, Default toss you a curveball, an upbeat, spirited jam-sesh. Branded “Yesterday’s Song” and built from the band’s collection of Black Crowes material, Default makes the day before seem like the good ole days.

Turn-Offs: As soon as “Little Too Late” drops in there it is-that fluttering, ambient guitar sound made “famous” by Angels and Airwaves which is now pasted at the header of nearly every dolled up safety rock song being hauled to radio these days; it pretty much indicates that “Little Too Late” is going to be about four minutes of value brand radio rock, which it is. The progression Default use in the chorus of the bore-you-to-tears “Show Me” is so, so played I can’t even begin to count how many different ways I’ve heard it delivered. I really wish “Supposed to Be” wasn’t so fruity, because there’s a lot going right; a stellar vocal delivery, colorful guitars and harmonies, and a sometimes cool aura, “Supposed to Be”, as Strawberry Shortcake its appeal, has the tools to be a darkhorse potential single. Default use the four and a half minutes of “Caught In The Moment” to tell you something that’ll take me five seconds to say: If I wanted to hear Fuel, I’d go listen to Fuel. While the boost provided by “Fascination” comes just in the nick of time, its timing and place on the record so predictable and planned out that it’s hard to ignore and almost mock.

King: “Goodbye”

Queen: “Yesterday’s Song”

FAIL: “Caught In the Moment”

Cool Points: “Goodbye” is already a badass on the surface, but by throwing in certified badass words such as “cigarettes”, “cocaine”, and “gasoline” to name a few, “Goodbye” is hereby declared a BAMF. The atmosphere and ambiance of the title track reminds me of a Greenwheel song not too many people know about called “I Don’t Believe”. Try to find a (good) recording of the song, as it is a special tune. “Supposed to Be” was supposed to be left in the 60’s where it belongs; don’t ya dig that far out 60’s aura on page one of “Supposed to Be”?

Moral of the Story: ‘Comes and Goes’ is basically yep, yep likely being a suitable answer to 98.5% of the questions you might have about Default’s new album. That’s not to say knowing what expect will disappoint you though, as Default’s new one is throbbing with some tracks you might wanna hold onto, longtime fan or not. Specifically “Goodbye”, and man I can’t stress enough how urgent it is you hear that song. All things considered, will someone out there in the U.S. of the A, anyone just go ahead and let Default’s latest album see a release over here? I mean c’mon, it’s probably gonna sell better than most of the debut stuff put out by some new safety rock band and with half the marketing cost. Please? ‘One Thing Remains’ was an awesome enough album that Default automatically earn another go ‘round, so let Default’s ‘Comes and Goes’ come into the U.S. and go onto the iPods of rock fans waiting to hear “Goodbye” already.

TuneLab Rating: 6.5 out of 10