Miss Autopsy, The Hill

Miss Autopsy is the one-man experimental rock band of singer/guitarist Steve Beyerink and is most definitely an acquired taste. There is nothing that I like about this Chicago-based musician’s third full-length release, The Hill. I was anxious to listen to the album, but from the first time I popped it into my car’s CD player, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment. I barely made it through the first song, scanned the other tracks to see if they were all similar (and they were), and quickly ejected the CD and put in something else. I didn’t have any desire to listen to it all the way through, so it took me a while before I actually did.

Sometimes it takes me a few listens for an album to grow on me, but unfortunately, such is not the case with Beyerink’s newest album. I listened to it all the way through, and honestly, it was a struggle for me; I don’t like Beyerink’s voice. I can see where he is trying to be unique in his style and vocals, but it doesn’t work. It’s just not a pleasant listening experience — it’s almost as if he is not actually singing, but rather talking and shouting to listeners.

The lyrics are dark and cynical and they just drag the listener down into Beyerink’s depressing mood. Don’t get me wrong — there is definitely a time and a place for sad, depressing lyrics. Not all songs have to be happy and upbeat, but I feel like this album goes to the extreme and leaves listeners in the same dark place in life that Beyerink is at. That might be his goal, but I don’t like it or think it’s clever. The use of electrical guitar, synths, and heavy drums mixed with his vocals and the piano creates a dark mood that hangs over the entire album. I won’t be listening to Miss Autopsy anytime soon.