|
by jordan schwartz (awhitesuit) / chris earnhart (Pocket) - Feb 01, 2005
Colonel Rhodes - This Is Public 1. Setting Sun 2. Normal Boy 3. In The Movies 4. Confess 5. Saint Paul Review #1 - Chris Earnhart If you like country without the stereotypical lyrics, country-western twang, and cowboy gear (except the cool hats), then This is Public is by far the album for you. Being a recently inducted fan of the genre known as "alt-country," this album fit nicely into my CD player. The album manages to maintain the down-home feel that draws me to folk and country and makes me feel at home. It does so lyrically and musically. The album is recorded well and played well, so there are no problems there. In fact, everything about This is Public is sound and solid. And, while there is nothing in particular that stands out to me about the instrumentation or singing, there is a freshness to the album that carries me through its entirety with a smile. If I were pressed to find a problem with the album, then it is this: I think a large part of my liking for it comes from its being so refreshing in the world of country music and not necissarily its being a lot better than music I like from other genres. That being said, I enjoyed listening to the album immensely. And with more practice, time, and experience, Colonel Rhodes could be a much larger beast. For those of you who immediately close your ear flaps at the mere mention of country, you will probably find nothing here. But if you are wanting something new, to spice up your collection or what have you, then get this album. I've heard that they had a pretty big change in their sound though, so keep in mind what I said about the album and check em out at www.colonelrhodes.com. Review #2 - Jordan Schwartz Go Colonel Rhodes! This Is Public and This Is great up-beat alternative country. Even if you're "not into country" this EP will still be awesome. It has everything one could want in solid pop music. From the opening guitar strums of "Setting Sun" to the country rock-out in "Saint Paul", there are few real flaws in the album. "Setting Sun" has one of the best parts of the album. The song quiets down and then in comes an absolutely joyous break down. There are two lead guitars complementing each over acoustic guitar strums and hand claps. When the song fades out you're left breathless. The prominent Male female harmonies throughout the album are fantastic. Elizabeth's vibrato sounds absolutely beautiful, which complement Seth's expressive vocals. "Normal Boy" exemplifies this vocal interplay. This is Public is a wonderful debut from a wonderfully talented band. I readily await future releases from Colonel Rhodes. They are more than deserving of their Band of the Month Title. |