Shoestring: Whose Line Is It Anyway?

There is an undeniable Mark Knopfler vibe to this mellow acoustic track, the strong first offering from Shoestring’s (Bangalore) newly-launched Web site. The brooding vocals make a pleasant counterpoint to the extremely well-layered acoustic and electric guitars, and the smooth electric guitar fills during the verse ooze Knopfler. But the grandstanding guitar solo was just out of place. It sounded more like a juvenile Slash-esque effort from Euphoria or Parikrama, than the country-western roots Shoestring profess. But instrumentally, Shoestring add an easygoing edge to Bangalore’s hard rock and metal-dominated scene, and the track is well executed.

Lyrically, border disputes and passionate entreaties for peace along the troubled Line of Control form the theme to this track. This theme seems to have been done to death in all areas of Indian popular culture, and Shoestring’s effort has no profoundly new ideas to add, but the lyrics do have a sincere ring to them. They tell the somber story of a young soldier who sacrifices his life for the sake of India’s border dispute with Pakistan. We’ve heard the story a million times, perhaps told more eloquently elsewhere, but if the story is repeated over and over again, maybe some ears will be opened. [Independent; 2006]

Download “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” for free here

1. November 27, 2006, 12:06 pm amey

   awesome song
2. February 17, 2007, 12:31 pm rage

   frickin awesome… these guys have all the signs of makin it big… you make it happen guys…
3. January 12, 2008, 10:54 am Abhik

   This one is gr8
   no new ideas rite but superbly executed