US band CHRISTIE FRONT DRIVE were, according to what I read, highly influential to the development of the so-called emo music style that appeared in the 1990’s, and apparently also had a background from punk or post-punk music. This is a reissue of their initial single from 1994, reissued by US label Magic Bullet Records as a part of an ongoing reissue campaign they had in 2016 when celebrating 20 years as a label.

I’ll readily admit that this is a band that had never appeared on my radar before, and I will also have to conclude that what constitutes emo in terms of music style as well as whatever punk background this band may have didn’t readily appear in my mind when giving this single a spin or three.

The A-side 4010 first and foremost comes across as a well developed slice of melodic hard rock to my ears, kind of like U2 on steroids at times, with a melodic and perhaps intensely insistent lead vocals that to me struck me as the main emo detail of the proceedings. The B side Away suffers from vocals buried too deep in the mix, but otherwise strikes me as much more of a grunge oriented affair, albeit more melodic and polished. Both tracks for me appearing as deviations within what I’d normally describe as indie rock, with orientations towards melodic hard rock and grunge respectively.

Both tracks are compelling in a distinctly radio-friendly manner, with enough bite to stay interesting but also with enough polish to fit most mainstream FM radio broadcasts. Those with a general interest in melodic hard rock made in an indie rock vein should find this single to be of general interest, and then especially those fond of emotional laden, insistent lead vocals.

My rating: 70/100

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Track list:
4010; Away