"Terminal's music is unique in almost every sense of the word. The closest I can come to describing their sound would be a more aggressive version of The Afters. Indie pop-infused rock is a fitting genre description, with punk/emo twinged vocals courtesy of Bryant. They stretch their sound out on How the Lonely Keep. Never does the music seem repetitive either. Each track has its own sound, while keeping a general tone alive throughout the forty-three minute running time of the disc.
The lyrics drip with regret and remorse, and the music perfectly compliments that tone. Some songs reek of hopelessness, like "City by the Sea," "I wish I had a little more to miss/ Than friends that don't exist/ In a town that felt like scars across my wrists." Other songs are a wee more optimistic, like "Just a Failure," "This time I'll disappoint the past/ Prove repetition wrong/ I'm just a failure feeling better than I ever have/ If this is life, I'm ready to live/ It feels so good to feel again."
More depressing then the CDs tone, however, is the fact that it's the first and last time we'll hear it. Bryant may remain under the moniker "Terminal," but when you lose all of your musical talent in one fleeting moment, things are bound to change. Here's to hoping that somehow, Travis Bryant is able to conjure up another brilliant effort in the aftermath of the beautiful piece of work known as How the Lonely Keep."
I heard "dark" and was hooked
Greg | Bakersfield, CA United States | 08/29/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"this is one of the few cds where every single song is great. from start to finish, this cd is great emotional rock, emo, whatever you would like to call it. the singer has a great voice and the melodies are different in every song. think copeland and mae, with with more distortion. thats how i see it."
Reaches well beyond fans of the genre
Isabel | Yogi Rock | 07/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I doubt if they read this, they would even take much obsession to the word 'genre' or their place within its respective limits - rather simply declaring that they 'do what they do', and whatever that may be, they should really keep doing it.
Every song sticks to the insides of your mind like glue in a very fantastic and enlightening way. I, myself not a fan at all of the usual screamo tunes, sometimes going as far as dismissing them completely of any musical talent, find solace in Terminal.
They aren't trying to be something they are not, and it really pays.
In short: The lyrics very mature especially ascending from such ranks, and the musical talent makes for unsurmountable future success. There isn't at least one song on here that won't leave you coming back.
I dare you to listen to the samples and not be tempted to buy this album."
Amazing
JT | Sharpsburg, GA | 07/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Every once in a while a cd will come along that I can listen to all the way through. I hadn't had one of those in a while until this cd came out. "How The Lonely Keep" is amazing, from beginning to end. "Wisher" is a great opening song for the album, which is full of catchy, somewhat poppy hooks. My favorites are "Dark", "Watching, Wasting, Waiting", "City By The Sea", and "Sunday Parking Lot", not to say that the other songs aren't good. I HIGHLY recommend this cd! This young, talented band is going to go places!!!!"
Fantastic!
Ben Lockhart | Dallas, TX USA | 08/19/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Terminal is a favorite of mine, and there is not one bad song on their debut album "How the Lonely Keep". Travis (the lead singer) has an amazing voice and really brings the record together. Great CD, highly recommended."