ROCK Film School brings back the sounds of the 1980s

The quintet's album has an up-tempo rock approach.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
There's a void in our black hearts that all the mascara-soaked tears in the world couldn't fill.
It's been there for better than 20 years and only now are we starting to understand how lonely we've been for a good '80s-sounding album.
Sure, The Killers kept our attention for a few minutes and The Bravery, well, 30 seconds, but only a few contemporary bands have succeeded in transcending the obligatory synth anthems for something a little deeper.
This is the reason why Film School, a San Francisco quintet that combines Robert Smith's vocals with Joy Division melodies and references half a dozen other underground bands from the Reagan administration, is so compelling. It's too bad the members of Film School had something else in mind.
"Yeah, it's not really what we're trying to do to be quite honest," said Film School drummer Donny Newenhouse, calling from outside Portland, Ore. "I think what we're trying to do is write good songs, first and foremost. I'm sure everyone sort of says that, but for us, it's just like washy guitars. I actually don't even know where the Joy Division thing comes from at all. And as far as the Cure thing, our singer's voice sounds like that."
He added, "And I think it's en vogue to make those references, more than anything else."
What it sounds like
Sure, the drummer is correct in his belief that neo new wave is fashionable. However, and you can't blame him for attempting to maintain the band's self-image, one listen to new track "On & amp; On" has you checking the CD booklet to see if it's a Psychedelic Furs cover. It's not ... but it could be.
Despite the influences or accidental sound-alike moments, "Film School" does possess a certain sonic My Bloody Valentine feel combined with an up-tempo rock approach that is missing from other albums of its type. Perhaps that's what makes it so appealing.
It's also a perfect platform for the band to space out live, giving audiences a ride into its universe with dueling guitars leading the way. Film School headlines a May 17 date at the Grog Shop.
All told, it's exactly what the quintet had in mind when it set out to write its follow-up to 2001's "Brilliant Corner."
"Yeah, it's certainly a culmination of basically everybody sort of contributing," Newenhouse said. "I feel like this record is definitely a sum of it parts and it certainly is a headphone record."
Invariably, for whatever reason, "Film School" is perhaps best listened to under the veil of candlelight and on the empty end of a bottle of wine or whatever.
"Yeah," Newenhouse laughed, "all of the above."