Have you ever been in a situation where you always see an ad of a band and you've always wanted to hear them but you have more important priorities in your musical quest that you just can't purchase it? Plus some complications like you can't see it in your regular record store and don't plan on ordering it. So you just see their ads and end up thinking that you will never get to listen to this mysterious band's music ever. Well, Flight 16 is just the band. Ya know, that band you always see in Metal Maniacs and the various guitar magazines. It's the ad with the gold hue with the 4 members who look like serious indie kids. Most of the time you could assume the music on the band through their image but it don't apply to Flight 16. One of the main eyecatcher is a black dude in the band. We all know that black people are not into rock and metal much coz most of them go for rap. Also, if you notice throughout the entire musical history of bands and groups, in pictures, most singers are segregated and always pose differently. So I have always been wondering what his position was in the band. To top it all off, the ad features the texts "For anyone who's wondering where rock music is going, your question is answered". Now how could you top a statement like that?! I had always envisioned them, through that ad that they are this kind of clean, sleek metal act which is quite good.

And then on one fateful day, I was at this used/unused record store and have been listening to some cd's. And then it finally happened, I chanced upon the cd, sealed and brand new. But the problem was, you can't listen to the sealed ones. I was already set on buying another cd but the urge to listen to Flight 16 was just too strong. So in the end, I got it despite of the handful of other cd's I already checked out. My friends were even making fun of me coz I bought the one which I didn't even listen to. Well, Fuck em I say!! hehe. So finally, it was in my possession and listened to it at once. And this is what I discovered... First off, Flight 16 is not a metal band. They are also far from the typical rock format that you hear regularly on the radio. This band is like a Southern sounding folkish stoner rock outfit with a penchant for some kool melody lines and riffs. The songs are slow ditties of music which lyrically borders on the self-pity of oneself. Almost all the songs have depressive messages, sort of like grunge lyrics. I think it would be safe to say that Flight 16 is a post-grunge kinda band. The third song "Wait for Tomorrow" is the album's pride and joy. It's worth the price of the entire cd alone. It's a love song with the catchiest of melodies and with a very high replay value. The other songs are descent but not as magical as "Wait...". And finally I discovered if the black guy is the singer or not. I came to the conclusion that he is not the singer, but one of the three other white guys is. This dude Dave Sears (singer/guitarist) appears to be the leader of the band. He writes most of the songs and at times sounds like the singer of Candlebox. He's on the forefront of the cover and the voice on the cd is far from a black man's voice. So I assume that he is the singer. I have yet to know the exact position of the black guy but as a matter of fact, I don't want to know anymore because I have finally listened to their music. And although it wasn't quite the sound I was hoping for, I've finally satisfied my mind and my conscience.

This review is credited to:
DEATHCRAYON