Five Eight have been making records since 1992, and Help a Sinner comes from the Athens, Georgia rock scene that has long surrounded the band. The lineup is Mike Mantione on vocals and guitar, Sean Dunn on guitar, Dan Horowitz on bass and backing vocals, and Patrick Ferguson on drums. That gives these twelve songs a direct guitar-and-rhythm-section frame, with the band’s alternative rock, indie rock, post-punk, and punk sides all in the mix. The titles move between skate parks, New York, loneliness, and a single-car crash, which suggests a record with some bite rather than a polished exercise in nostalgia.
David Barbe engineered, produced, and mixed the album at Chase Park Transduction, where Jason Nesmith also handled mastering. The extra colour comes from Matt Beck’s pedal steel on “Not the 4th of July” and “Bloom,” Jay Gonzalez’s piano on that first song and both New York songs, and Barbe’s guitar on “I Really Miss New York.” Fans of Athens guitar bands, post-punk tension, and punk that still leaves room for melody should find plenty to investigate here. Help a Sinner is available as a paid release in FLAC 16/44, alongside MP3, ALAC, WAV, and AIFF, with vinyl and CD editions as well.
