Cross My Heart

1997, I got a Blank 7" for review on Vermin Scum. At that point I just started putting out records, the very early stages of Dim Mak. I wrote a letter to the singer of Blank letting him know that there was a kid in Goleta that fucking loved that 7". He called back and told me about his new band Cross My Heart. A few months later he sent me 7 songs that became this LP. Since then I've released 3 records by Cross My Heart from before they played their first show to their very last record. They sound anywhere between Jawbreaker to Karate, really depressing and very dramatic. Three of the four members are now in Liar's Academy (Equal Visions)

Dim Mak Releases:
DM019: "Temporary Contemporary", Buy LP
DM009: "Reason I Failed History", Buy LP, Buy CD
DM005: "Cross My Heart" LP

Reviews

Aiding & Abetting Cross My Heart "S/T" LP
Cross My Heart lets the guitars truly wail and presents a powerful interpretation of the ever-evolving emo standard. Everything works. Passion, man. That's here in droves. You know, it's called emo for a reason. The psychic urgency of the lyrics and riffage makes listening imperative. No choice. This stuff impels me to turn up the volume and contemplate. The best music takes hold of the soul and doesn't let go. There's a hook which slowly snags itself on the heart, and once it pierces, escape is a futile dream."

CMJ Cross My Heart "S/T" LP
Cross My Heart conjures up post-hardcore's intense sense of desperation and alienation, but the songs maintain an indisputable pop-like catchiness. Astounding production, blending the muscular with the melodious."

Fracture Cross My Heart "S/T" LP
Can you believe it? The infinitely faultless Deep Elm Records come with with yet another infinitely faultless release, this time from the gloriously talented CROSS MY HEART. This is superb, like the ultimate mix of slow emo rock a la Brandtson and the less hardcore moments of Boy Sets Fire meets Samiam. And then elements of Promise Ring come to mind too, but CROSS MY HEART just piss all over that band (who really are terribly over-rated y'know) and also have this startling tendency to break the emotive subtleties that hold their songs together and get all powerful and screamy, again very much in a Boy Sets Fire kind of way. Of course I'll regret saying this once Deep Elm have a few more releases under their belt in the months to come, but for now, and without a hesitation in my mind, CROSS MY HEART are my favourite Deep Elm band so far. There, said it."

Splendid Cross My Heart "S/T" LP
An empathetic musical assault from Baltimore. Slick guitar work acts like a metaphorical anchor to these seven tracks. Sometimes quietly volatile, sometimes uproariously stormy, Cross My Heart waver between emotional stability and staving off emotional outbursts. Quietly plucked guitar chords match the smooth and successively inflamed vocals. The closing track of the CD, "The Hypnotist," is exactly that: a short burst of wavering guitar feedback calmly induces a glazed- over stupor, as serene vocals burrow not only into the band's memories, but also your own."

RocketFuel Cross My Heart "S/T" LP
This is an amazing band, and one that I'm really really excited about. Cross My Heart play traditional rock, and they do it well, with sonic sounds, and straight to the point rock numbers. This EP opens up with the track 'dornier' and it begins hitting you right from the start, with its Quicksand-like basslines and guitar-like chorus. This is one of my favorite songs right now, and I could write an entire review just on that song. But there are six other songs on here, most of which are full of twists and turns that give out quiet and emotive parts, as well as straight-up hooky rock parts. 'Track five' is an instrumental, guitar-only track, and I'm not really too sure of its existence on this, but. . . it's there, stuck right between a rather Karate sounding 'determination' and a very upbeat groove-oriented post-hardcore/rock type song in 'secret to tell.' So yeah, it's freakin' awesome, it's just too bad it's so short. Fans of Karate and Quicksand type rock would be most likely to enjoy this perfect mix of power and catchy chord based rock. You need a hook, you've come to the right place."

Skratch Cross My Heart "S/T" LP
Despite themes of listlessness and despair, Cross My Heart manages to engulf you in a sound that is piercing, perfect, dysfunctional, restless and powerful. A careful arrangement of elements and attention to detail, Led by the enigmatic, never whiny, vocals of Ryan Shelkett."

Building Adam Cross My Heart "S/T" LP
There's a lot of power on here. Within the first ten seconds of the first track I was sucked into it. I reveled in it. The joy and heartache of it all... XMH plays emotional rock and roll. The production is great and it's not discordant or distorted. Straight ahead, hit you between-the-eyes rock. The vocals are really good too, without cracking but strongly staying on key. Some of the kids in here were in Blank, the big punk band outta Baltimore. Solid lyrics that convey a lot of feeling and are truly poetic. Unfortunately, like all good EP's, I'm left with a desire for more. I guess I just have to wait. Definitely for fans of Mineral, Jets To Brazil and Superchunk."

Pitchforkmedia.com Cross My Heart "S/T" LP
Cross My Heart undeniably set themselves apart from their ever-increasing homogenized contemporaries. Contingent with each song is an invitation for the listener to become involved in the introspective journey at hand, but with the understanding that a sense of relief will ultimately be provided. By album's end, the overall vibe is a positive one - a rehabilitative sense, perhaps. Did I mention that these boys can rock? A song like "Today I Discovered the World" demonstrates that deep, sensitive music doesn't have to be confined to sleepy instrumentation and denial of all aggressive urges. Cross My Heart recognizes the importance of both visceral and cerebral approaches to emotional music."

Space City Rock Cross My Heart "S/T" LP
The worst thing about this record is that it's an EP. I wanted to hear a lot more than just seven songs from this extremely talented bunch of guys. If you like your emo in the vein of Sensefield, Quicksand or Samiam, then you'll love Cross My Heart. They've mastered the art of controlled release: quiet, subdued verses often break into abrasive choral passages and then become near-sublime again. While this is nothing new, it doesn't seem trite here. XMH successfully combines the visceral and cerebral to produce a truly stunning product. I was hooked immediately by the Sergio Vega-esque bassline that starts off the album's opener "dornier," and after that it was thirty minutes of pure bliss...well, as blissful as ruminating over failed relationships and loss can be; it is emo, after all. However, I must say that "secret to tell" is a pretty upbeat song (musically, at least), and a fine example of what the post-hardcore music world should be, a la Handsome. I can't wait for the full length from this band."

Collective (UK) Cross My Heart "S/T" LP
The songs sound great, effortlessly well produced, big sounding, melodic, rocking. All that stuff. It all seems too easy. Lovely slow bits, blending with whopping heavy sections and shoutier vocals. As I said before it sounds good. Then there is "Determination" which starts out all slow and lumbering, before the big chorus...awesome, twinkly guitar parts. All the albums I have off the Deep Elm label I like."

Heckler Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"Finally, the much anticipated first full length from Cross My Heart is here. Temporary Contemporary exceeds any expectations I had for this record. From the first chord played I was drawn in and held for the entire album. I can imagine listening to this on a rainy day while staring out the window and smoking cigarettes. For the most part the album is pretty mellow, but it can also change dramatically into powerful guitars and screaming vocals. Ryan Shelkett matches the music just right with his vocals, changing with every mood. This is an excellent album. Temporary Contemporary is a hit."

Summer Salts Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"One of the most anticipated records of the year and, oh, does it deliver...

Delusions of Adequacy Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"Cross My Heart manages to play rock with high energy and to convey feeling better than almost any other band out there. Impeccable recording, tight playing, and the lofty, almost too-perfect vocals of Ryan Shelkett make me think that it's too easy. Shelkett's vocals are characteristically sweeping and soaring, often singing low and sometimes screaming with what the band is trying to get across. And, man, they're so good when they're playing fast and furious. Any fan of their earlier EP will feel comforted with "Tonight We'll Light Ourselves On Fire," probably this album's best song, keeping the pace high and infused with impressive guitar work. Cross My Heart plays the most emotional and powerful music being played today, whether they're on the verge of screaming their hearts out or singing slow and personal. Their power and aggressive rock is just amazing...maturing on Temporary Contemporary. A ride definitely worth the price of admission."

Heartattack Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"Loud power chord solidity and rhythmic octaves waiving...so damn catchy. Cross My Heart are a melodic indie band that can rock out hard in that untamed indie sort of way. On Temporary Contemporary they are controlled and have mastered the best aspects of soft indie rock like Karate or Chamberlain. They play all the parts right and have a great production to back it up."

Casaba Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"A fantastic album which is as catchy as it is deep and meaningful. Songs such as 'The Great Depression,' 'London Bridge' and 'Infinity Doesn't Live Here Anymore' are deeply moving and inspirational. This band, musically, are everything you could ever want, and lyrically, go beyond that. Temporary Contemporary impressed me beyond all expectations and would make a welcome addition in anyone's music collection."

The Big Takeover Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"Temporary Contemporary is intense emo that moves further and hits deeper than Cross My Heart's last release. It's not as intense as in hardcore, though you can feel it when the group rages. The poetic lyrics read like lines from lost love poems, with tales of longing and loss. There's raw intensity that explodes and is also held back, but even in the quietest moments, you can feel the guitars straining to get out. It's structured yet loose enough to hang yourself by, as you cut and strain along with the vocals that tie knots in your throat. Moving alongside bands such as The Appleseed Cast and Pop Unknown but holding its own, Cross My Heart has its own dynamics, sharing a style but making it breath with a certain heat."

ActionAttackHelicopter Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"Cross My Heart is a powerful band. They're so forceful that they're starting to move into my subconscious. Lead singer Ryan Shelkett has burrowed into my dreams. Perhaps that says something about the hooks on this album as well. They're in my mind all the time. Smart songwriting, strong, dynamic vocals and powerful lyrics make this a win in my book. To hear Ryan croon, 'my life, I'm over it' makes my heart break. There is a effective connection between the music and lyrics on 'Temporary Contemporary' that clicks well."

Lollipop Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"One of my favorite Deep Elm bands follows up their self-titled debut EP with a full-length comprised of sultriness and desperation. Temporary Contemporary has Cross My Heart chilling out, putting the aggression on the back burner to expose the more charred aspects of their psyche...particularly in areas of love. They keep the sad, depressing 'break-up mood' of the tunes afloat by changing paces often and trying new things, such as in the Wheat-ish 'Angels & Gargoyles' with its subtly seductive, mellow beat. And whether the band is rocking out or playing it shogazer, you still get the feeling that the sincerity and true pain comes from every inch of their being. The reality of it all pierces through you and stirs up some restless ghosts from your past. A very memorable, touching, and masochistically enjoyable album. I'm putting it on repeat."

Splendid Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"While 'The Great Depression' gave me the same feeling as reading William Styron's 'Darkness Visible' - a far from soothing melancholy which made me physically ache - there's an overall sense of joy in hearing a record that so successfully seems to accomplish a band's intentions. Cross My Heart makes emotional music that transcends borders, and should please most any person who's waiting 'for the better days' while leaning on songs to keep afloat emotionally . Temporary Contemporary includes a song with pure rock-n-roll swagger ('London Bridge'), and two slow songs built by lyrical fragments ('You take all the shame / sorry I'm alive / promise I won't write') that don't add up to a gigglefest, but have a nice brooding sincerity whose appeal endures far longer than one might expect. Although they don't do anything radical, Cross My Heart's new record always sounds sincere, and always makes me care... Furthermore, their best song, the gorgeous 'Angels and Gargoyles' reaches the same heights as Pedro the Lion's 'Only Reason I Feel Secure' and stands among the more moving songs released in 2000."

Fracture Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"Temporary Contemporary is an amazing album. CROSS MY HEART's debut was excellent, but on here they've excelled themselves and really 'matured' their sound, for want of a better word. They've stripped the sound right down to the basics of rock, added just a few layers of pop, and left it right there, and it sounds just perfect. Each track is a warm and honest song of controlled passion and melody with soft guitars and endearing vocals, that only occasionally break into full-on rock. This whole album reminds me a lot of the Waxwing album of last year, it has the same mid-paced melancholy and sleepy emotion but packed with an understated power. I could listen to the song "Paris" for days on end, with it's empty Karate-like verses and rocking Samiam-styled choruses. There's even times when their mid-80s UK power-pop influences shine through like on the superbly titled "Self Loathing Bastard". Sure, XMH are just doing the indie-rock thing like the others, but fuck me, can they do it well. It really does stand out from the crowd."

Ear Pollution Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"The long-anticipated follow-up to last year's self-titled album, Temporary Contemporary is a complex piece of magnificent heartbreak, and one that has securely landed itself in my list of favorite releases of the year. Undeniably catchy music in the emo/sad-core vein, it delicately balances between the visceral intensity of the music and the despairing alienation of singer/guitarist Ryan Shelkett's lyrics. His words play the Everyman here, delicately capturing the feelings of regret and self-loathing we've all felt before and secretly penned in the dark of night. The music buries deep into the subconscious and the songs feel like they have, at times, been your own. And like all great pop music, Shelkett's lyrics come exquisitely wrapped in catchy hooks and powerful guitar lines that float between hurricanes and whispers. Temporary Contemporary is one of those finds you don't come across too often. Both passionate and powerful, its melancholic beauty works like a drug, and every time you put it on and slowly let it slide in, your body shudders in guilty ecstasy; something so depressing shouldn't feel this good. File under: Post-Breakup Medication for the Disillusioned and Broken Hearted. And please, keep it dark in here."

Outback Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"Incredibly crafted emo-rock tunes that are powerful yet mellow and very passionate. With a slightly depressing feel, this album conjures up emotions of the past and love and pounds at them with great harmonies all around and an incredibly subdued power. Temporary Contemporary is an incredible accomplishment on the band's part and proves they know how to make a wonderfully done 'emo' rock record."

Ink Nineteen Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"Intense emo that moves further than their last release, hits deeper. Those poetic lyrics that read like lines from lost love poems, tales of longing and loss. Raw intensity that explodes and is also held back, restrained, but even in the quietest moments you can feel the guitars straining to get out. Moving alongside bands such as the Appleseed Cast and Pop Unknown, but holding their own with Temporary Contemporary. They have their own dynamics, sharing a style, but making it breathe with a certain heat. I promise...cross my heart."

Impact Press Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"The music on Temporary Contemporary is passionate, sincere and emotionally-driven. Nine wonderful tracks worth. The tempo shifts with seamless musicianship, going from a soothing, heartfelt flow to an intense, powerful pace - always holding the emotional aspect of the music in clear view. The vocals are profound, absorbing and buoyant, floating to the front of each song but not dominating it. Cross My Heart plays complex music that captures melody and emotional meaning with each new track."

Amazon Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"If you're sitting in the murky death of wondering where to find a great record to add to your collection, Temporary Contemporary is your answer. The nine tracks give you that straight ahead listening pleasure, leaving a smoking wake of terrific tunes in your midst. Cross My Heart's sound is notable for it's blood-stirring, rock-driven melodies, while most of the band's potential rests with the lyrics. These songs provide an escape from the traditional muck. An impressive record with energetic guitar and vocals. Sooner or later this band is going to be successful enough to make their own mark on the industry. My money is on Cross My Heart.

Friction Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"Temporary Contemporary is a great piece of work. Cross My Heart is an example of a mature and experienced band. They have their own sound that is backed up by solid musicianship and song writing, creating a mood and versatility where the listener doesn't get bored. This has some of the catchiest lyrics I have heard. From the bluesy intro on the first song to some tight upbeat rhythms in London Bridges, this release offers something others do not - variety. The best part of Cross My Heart has to be the vocalist as he could carry any band."

Music Emissions Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
"As Cross My Heart progresses through Temporary Contemporary, you realize the wealth of talent this group of musicians possesses. A rock band that isn't afraid of flexing their aggressive tendencies as well as bearing their soul on the next lick. The album is a good example of Ryan Shelkett's ability to sing...and he sings VERY well. The guitars ring like they are voices reaching into your soul. XMH manages to perfect the balance of pop and punk that so many emo-core bands try to achieve."

New Scheme #1 Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
This is the first time I've ever heard this band. I have heard the name quite a few times, a most of thosetimes it has been followed with a snicker. It must just be the name, becausethere is little to be snickered about on this album. Thisis a very solid rock album contrary to what the name might imply. Powerful vocals, strong yet melodic guitars and decent production make this album very enjoyable. My favorites are "Tonight We'll Light Ourselves on Fire" and "Self Loathing Bastard." (Tom)

Counter Theory #3 Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
I got a Midwest feel out of this, kind of like Chamberlain...I enjoy the mass amounts of solid power chords. This record flows mainly because of the strong vocals by Ryan Shelkett. This is something I'd buy after a first listen. AW

Shredding Paper #8 Cross My Heart "Temporary Contemporary" LP
CMH are a quasi-poetic bunch who've blazed a trail through the wasteland of heartache, coming out with a few songs intact.... Anthony

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