Scripted

Personnel: Shawn Jump (guitars); Adam Kronshagen (drums).
Audio Mixer: J.R. McNeely .
Recording information: Compound Recording, Seattle; Superphonic Studios, Nashville, TN; Tomahawk Recording, Nashville, TN.
Photographer: Cabel Khul.
Intense and infectious in equal measure, Icon for Hire brings the Paramore sound to the Tooth & Nail set with Scripted, the Decatur, Illinois group's debut album. Granted, this three-piece is much more than a Paramore clone with all their wit and wordplay, plus lead singer Ariel, who is a mix of powerful and approachable that might very well be the inspiration for the band's tongue-in-cheek name. Things get layered as "Make a Move" challenges the punk-pop set to trade both angst and apathy for something positive ("Screaming in the dark, while we just play our part/I'll play right along, like I don't what's going on") while "Up in Flames" goes through a list of reasons Ariel doesn't want to be on-stage, before admitting that she must, if only to combat the dreck. Christian ideals are the driving force here, but you could look at this as a secular rebellion against the mopey "scene" bands and still thrill at Icon for Hire's fresh attitude and sense of purpose. ~ David Jeffries