On their debut full-length, Shock of Being, Make Believe twists the album’s thirteen tracks through an awkward and displaced reality. Initially the album left me with an unsettled feeling as I struggled to comprehend what had just been received through my auditory receptors. While my brain tends to reserve this somewhat uncomfortable feeling for music that is really, really bad, I think it may have just been thrown off by Make Believe’s refusal to follow conventional songwriting wisdom.

Reflecting upon it, it may have been the guitar work of Sam Zurick that pushed me over the edge. Rarely resorting to chords as a basis for his playing, Zurick fills Shock of Being’s forty-two minutes with more notes than an extended (as in forty-two minute) metal solo. Acting more as hyperactive counterpoint than a basis for any sort of melodic structure, it is amazing how well Make Believe keep the songs together.

Tim Kinsella does his best to add to the musical chaos both vocally and lyrically. Throughout the album and often within the course of two lines, Tim Kinsella manages to turn his vocal style upside down. "His Short Quip Whenever Eddie’s Bothered" may feature Tim at his most laid back while the following track "Say What You Mean" sees him going from a similarly relaxed delivery to a quick staccato delivery of the repeated phrase "day to day" before going into a primal yowl written out in the lyrics as

"how-eee – yah-oo-oowow - -oo / hay-ee—ee - - ay"

In addition to his vocal trickery, Tim Kinsella seems to take great pleasure in composing lines that immediately contradict themselves creating poignant lyrical paradoxes. Familiar phrases are twisted yielding results such as in "Television Cemetery"

mirror mirror on the war, who’s the fairest keeper of score?

Make like a tree and bark,
Bark like a dog and leave.

Nate Kinsella and Bobby Burg do their best to stabilize the compositions on drums and bass, but even in the hands of this skilled rhythm section it can still feel as though things may come loose with Nate Kinsella will join Zurick in his frantic playing and Burg exploring negative space. It may be a bit uncomfortable initially, but that feeling is just an indication of how much Make Believe manages to explore a new space with their music. Just remember, it’s good to be challenged.