Law and Order – The Glass House. See what they’ve done there? Good to see a band thinking laterally! Sarcasm aside I quite enjoyed reviewing this release as for once we are not talking former rock star coming out of the woodwork, or Nu-metal teen angst, featuring a vocalist who sounds like he’s gargling concrete. (Honestly I tuned into one of the satellite rock channels the other day whilst I was doing a bit of painting at home and almost lost the will to live due to the profusion of the latter.) If nothing else Law and Order are a bit different. 

Well for these clinical times. You see whilst I enjoyed the band I have one major gripe, which I’d like to get out of the way right now. The vocalist thinks he’s in Pearl Jam. Or would like to think he is. One song is just that too close for comfort vocally and this ‘Pearl Jaminess’ is present on several tracks. Shame. As when Law and Order get it together with their own thing they sound mighty fine. Sure there is a lot of grunge knocking around. But it is when they mix this up with classic British sounding rock riffs and American bluesy rock tones that it all makes sense. 

For this album has a beautifully organic sound to it. Very basic, almost demo like in its simplicity. Nice to see a modern band go into the studio and resist all the trickery that is available these days. Overdubs are down to a minimum, and I like that a lot. It takes a certain amount of bottle. This band has a lot of future potential if they can just lesson the obvious references and hone an identity of their own. 

This is the band’s third release and it all kicks off with ‘Sold’. An energetic little ditty and catchier than the flu virus. Not exactly flattering, I know, but the band’s sound does hark back to the days of everybody wearing black and peering down constantly at their navels. However thankfully Law and Order are a bit more uplifting than all that mangy old Grunge introversion. ‘Never Satisfied’ is actually quite cheery for this genre and the slide guitar work a total joy. This is when this band start to get interesting – when they mix up styles to come out with something of their very own.  

Even inevitable acoustic interlude ‘In The Middle’ is strangely happy go lucky. And this lends the band a certain charm that I suspect will gain them a few new fans. Then we are suddenly in Jimmy Page territory for the hard riffing of ‘Memphis’. Unfortunately the vocals are back in ‘Jaminess’ mode, but it is nonetheless still enjoyable stuff.  

However ‘The Pain Is Gone’ starts like a bad Poison ballad… and never improves. A dodgy CC Deville style guitar solo doesn’t help either. Oh dear. ‘The Crushing Weight’ was a weight off my shoulders when it finished and all the good work seems to be undone. Yet ‘Four Walls’ is much more like it but the band are now suddenly sounding more Eastenders, than Coronation Street. 

Final track ‘Recognized’ has a bizarre slowed down Randy Rhodes style riff to it and is let down by another CC style guitar break. All of which leaves me rather confused. The album starts off in cracking style and continues with the likes of ‘When It All Comes Down’, ‘Blind Guides’ and ‘The Pouring’. Even if at times Pearl Jam might be looking for royalties. Hence I’m still left feeling that Law and Order are potentially a very good band but still lack that all important definitive identity. 

No doubt the band have enough fans already without me going off on one about ‘finding their true selves’. However if you are going to be parting with your hard earned cash the bottom line is that there simply aren’t enough quality songs on here to recommend this to anyone other than fans of the band (or the Seattle sound). However if you are simply fed up with all the endless spotty, Nu-metal whining that is invading record companies these days you might like to give it a try also. In a strange way, I liked this album, but not enough to rate it above the ordinary. However I do think they have it in them to produce something special in the future.

Let us know your views on 'The Glass House'

Track List

Sold
When It All Comes Down
Blind Guides
The Pouring
Like Animals
Never Satisfied
In The Middle
Memphis
The Pain Is Gone
The Crushing Weight
Four Walls
Recognized

Line Up

Shane - Vocals
Phil Allocco - Guitar
Sean Carmody -Bass
Rob Steele - Drums