Release date: 08-12-2006

Antelope plays meditative, stripped-down punk music that uses the melody vs. repetition equation to produce tightly crafted gems. The band formed in 2001 and is comprised of Justin Moyer (formerly of supersystem and El Guapo), and former Vertebrates members Mike Andre and Bee Elvy. To date Antelope has released two records, a six-song EP in 2003 and a two-song single in 2004. Reflector, Antelope's first full-length release was recorded in November 2006 at the Dischord House by Ian MacKaye and mixed by Ian and the band with Don Zientara at Inner Ear Studios.

Tracks:
01. Reflector 
02. Dead Eye 
03. Contraction  
04. Mirroring 
05. Justin Jesus  
06. Wandering Ghost  
07. Flower
08. Concentration
09. The Demon 
10. Collective Dream

Antelope was formed in Washington, DC in 2001 by ex-members of the Vertebrates, Bee Elvy and Mike Andre, and El Guapo's Justin Moyer. In March of 2002 the band recorded six songs with Phil Manley (of Trans Am) at National Recording Studios. 
There's a certain charm that comes with stripping music down to its simplest form, but pulling it off can be difficult. For many bands, their music is their cover — something to hide mediocre lyrics and vocals behind. But if you take away that cover, the general consensus is that you better be an amazing songwriter. MTV executives take note: This is why something like Korn Unplugged simply doesn't work.
On the album Reflector, Washington, D.C.-based Antelope surely subscribes to that motto of "less is better," but the band finds itself awkwardly shifting between what works and what doesn't. Recorded and mixed by Ian MacKaye, the album resembles MacKaye's current project, The Evens, in many ways. It's punk minus the fist-pumping bravado. Power chords have been replaced by repetitive strings of notes, and the drums shuffle through each song.
On some songs, it works wonderfully — like the catchy opening track "Reflector" and the raw "Dead Eye." But the constant regurgitation of melody and lyrics sometimes ruins potentially great songs ("Wandering Ghost") or turns one-minute songs like "Collective Dream" into half thoughts. The band — consisting of Mike Andre on bass, drums and vocals; Bee Elvy on bass, drums and vocals; and Justin Moyer on guitar and vocals — openly admits to frequent use of "the melody vs. repetition equation," so it's useless to call them out on it. Plus, if you're an Ian MacKaye fan, you're likely to ignore all of this and buy the album, anyway.