The Mall Emergency at the Everyday

• Words: Josiah Hughes
• Label: Discos Huelga-Secretaria

S.F.'s The Mall plays dancey, synth-heavy post-hardcore. Combine that with not-too-hot production, and Emergency at the Everyday might seem destined for failure. Fortunately, their songwriting stands out among the flock of today's noisy art-punks. Catchy keyboard riffs and memorable dynamics dominate tracks like "Define Migration" and "Friends and Family," suggesting that the band might be great on stage. While Emergency at the Everyday is not groundbreaking, it contains enough good ideas in its 19:50 playtime to warrant repeated listens and to present The Mall as a band to watch in '07.