Soccer Team - Volunteered Civility and Professionalism

the background to some lazy autumnal afternoon, rather than the soundtrack to a hedonistic summer night

Album Review by Jamie Borthwick | 12 Dec 2006
Album title: Volunteered Civility and Professionalism
Artist: Soccer Team
Label: Dischord
Released on Dischord and featuring two of the label's members of staff, Ryan Nelson and Melissa Quinley, Soccer Team seems a band based upon the ideas and convolutions of the former's musical frustrations. With 14 tracks at only 35 minutes, Volunteered Civility and Professionalism spins away coherently enough as the background to some lazy autumnal afternoon, rather than the soundtrack to a hedonistic summer night. The lo-fi guitar sound is produced with enough freshness to keep the ear attuned and the vocals are endearing and lyrically entertaining, with some great syncopated moments. 'Solid Ring Fighters' and 'Traffic' should be mix-tape mainstays for their original and engaging formulae, but they are let down by some overly-long songs such as the title track, meandering along frustratingly without ever finding a good hook. After the first few honeymoon listens it becomes quite apparent that there are just too many tracks likely to befall the fate of the dreaded 'skip' button. [Jamie Borthwick]
Release Date: Out now. http://www.dischord.com/bands/soccerteam.shtml