Joe Folmar is Nothing Brings Indemnity, which is an acoustic emo act. I know what you're thinking, "Dashboard Confessional," right? Well, close, but no cigar. If I Die Sleeping is his debut LP which is also the first for the amazingly up and coming Refining The Dynamic Records.

Who really wants to feel sad all the time while listening to music? Nothing Brings Indemnity (NBI) doesn't seem to want to. Where Dashboard Confessional lacks a sense of earnest lighting at the end of a tunnel, NBI puts the fire back into the dark passageway. Folmar's voice resembles lead singer of Saves The Day, Chris Conley while the music seems of their acoustic EP I'm Sorry I'm Leaving. Lyrically though, you will find something more depth filled invocating a thinking capability.

With acoustic rock being the new fad, Nothing Brings Indemnity adds a pinch of innovation. "When The Fish Forgive Us" speaks of Folmar yearning to be a fish while "The Everlasting G Chord" is just that, an everlasting G chord where the rhythm takes a step ahead of the riff.

In a time of Jon Mayer, Josh Groban, Ben Harper, and Jack Johnson; Nothing Brings Indemnity will be a delightful addition to the four-man roster. If you like acoustic rock, you will like this album, believe it.

- Review date: 6/19/02, written by Blake Garris