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Due to overwhelming volume, OpeningBands.com regrets that is not accepting CD admissions at this time.
| by scott woods (Monophonic81) / nathan schwalm (mythox007) | |
1. Regressionary Self-Enhancement
2. Al Czervik is Awesome!
3. The Enlightened Despots
4. Small Town Shit Revival
5. Wesley Willis is New and Innovative
6. All Compasses Point to Devolution
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Band: There is a World
CD: Superfluous Noise |
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Review #1 - Nathan Schwalm
Man oh man, this recording cooks. This is what I call straight-ahead crunchy hardcore punk rock and roll. For those who hate 80s hardcore sounds and influences or love Blink 182, Ashliee Simpson, and/or current Lenny Kravitz 24/7 are the main suspects to hate this album or quit reading the review.
This southwest Michigan band roots their sounds from the pioneer Hardcore bands such as: Minor Threat, Black Flag, Fugazi (in their heavier moments), and Jawbreaker. At times, this is not original hardcore stuff, but a well-attempt to respect the glory days of early hardcore.
The standout tracks are the mosh-friendly "Small Town Shit Revival" with it's raging Black Flag grooves and shouting that would make Henry Rollins grin. "Al Czervik is Awesome!" in the middle of its punk rock rage lies a nice section of acoustic guitar strumming accompanied by piles of handclaps surrounding the brief twenty-second passage.
In the wrap-up: cool and decent CD to mosh, headbang, and rock out to. It isn't a philosophical album from Al Stewart and it sure ain't pretty and melodic like Simon and Garfunkel harmonies, but it sure cooks.
Review #2 - Scott Woods
Superfluous Noise is the first album from Southern Michigan band There Is A World. This is an album filled with the energy you could expect from any number of early 80's punk bands. Unfortunately, it is also filled with what you could expect from many crappy 80's punk bands, no variety. I had very high hopes for this album after hearing the first track "Regressionary Self-Enhancement". The drums were fast and simple, the guitars were fuzzier than your grandma's upper lip, and the singer was screaming over the band. A very solid track. However, its title was prophetic. Each track seemed to be a derivative of the one preceding it.
While each track is very listenable, the combination of them makes a very poor album. I think it would be best to rip this album into your hip mp3 player with the rest of your music collection and have it play a track randomly every now and then.
Something that comes off very clearly from their album is that these guys probably put on an amazing live show. It bears repeating, there is a lot of energy on this album. I can see them tearing up a quick 30 minute set and then having to go out back and wring out their underoos because they were so soaked with sweat. Not that I would want to see that, but you know, it comes off that way.
In summary, if There Is A World comes to town, go see them, buy their album, rip the tracks, and hope one comes up in a random mix. Oh yeah, and visit their website www.thereisaworld.tk.
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| by joseph m. pence (notaninja) / ben hsieh (bbhsieh) | |
1. October Song
2. Sky Signal
3. From the Third Floor
4. Sunday Bell
5. We Were Wrong
6. Five Pirates
7. Chase the Kids Away
8. Motorcycle
9. Sound Makes a Circle
10. Finally Found
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Band: Audible
CD: Sky Signal |
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Review #1 - Ben Hsieh
Audible is a Philadelphia based band on local Champaign label Polyvinyl. Their latest release Sky Signal is an exercise in standard dreamy indie pop. Fans of Earlimart, Kings of Convenience, Rilo Kiley, and Dios who want another record to either chill out to at 3 a.m. or to hum along to while studying for that neuroscience final look no further.
October Song is a fitting overture to the rest of the album - almost whispered vocals, anthemic keyboards, singalong-friendly choruses, etc. Tracks like "Sunday Bell" and "Sound Makes a Circle" are bright spots - showing that Audible isn't afriad to kick up things a notch here and there, and the album finishes strong with the Rentals-esque "Finally Found."
There is really strong songcrafting here - if you're a perpetually overcaffeinated neurotic like me then it might take a while to get in the right mood for this album, but if you get enough of these songs stuck in your head, it's like draping your arms around your best friends and singing with them.
Review #2 - Joe Pence
Here's the thing about Audible. I heard one song of theirs and it ruined me to the rest of the album. The song I heard was "Sky Signal," the title track of this album by the Philly, PA band, which Champaign-based label Polyvinyl was kind enough to give us a copy. This song is everything I wanted this album to be: a great hook tying down a stratospheric keyboard pop melody that connects way down into the middle of your soul. The other songs hardly sound this natural, this enthusiastic for a midtempo song; they don't really break free -- they don't move on all fours from a self-contained boundary of whispery chamber pop with electronic elements. Which isn't to say Sky Signal is outrightly bad, I find it listenable mood music. It's just that I almost expected the album to reach out beyond one moment of incredible and nine instances of just okay. I wanted it to be something that really connected with me, someone who's persona non grata, someone who's outside power-pop, Polyvinyl, and the like.
One thing I can say in favor of Audible is their choice of natural drumming. There's a good amount of material here that could have been accomplished with the presently fashionable trend of incorporating a drum machine, but the little flourishes and tight pacing of having a real person instead of a robot add a nice depth and direction to songs like "October Song" and "Sound Makes a Circle." Fans of Polyvinyl's other bands, such as label staples Rilo Kiley and Of Montreal, may enjoy this music quite a bit, and maybe that's exactly what the band wants, but I think Audible is treading ground that'd already been tread on not only by their labelmates, but a lot of the larger music scene in general.
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| by ben hsieh (bbhsieh) / megan kniepkamp (megnak) | |
1. Akudama Come Out
2. Sunshine on American Backyards
3. September
4. Knocking
5. Night Club
6. Beer on the Wall
7. The 5 AM Wave
8. Interlude
9. Go Home
10. Never Again
11. No Moon Out
12. Crescent Moon Drops
13. Cool Kids Stay Out Past 10 PM
14. Goodbye
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Band: Akudama
CD: Flying Over Morning |
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Review #1 - Megan Kniepkamp
With the release of Flying Over Morning, Connecticut-based Akudama has shown that they could become a major force in the indie music world. Although, like any band with less than three years experience together, they have understandable growing to do, their music is of an extremely high caliber. Vocalist Blake Charleton's produces sounds which are pleasantly reminiscent of The Cure or The Killers. The lyrics are fun and unpretentious, telling everyday stories, but with just a little more flair and poeticism than most of us manage every day.
The dynamic versatility of the instrumental music is what really makes the album shine, however. Though some of the songs become repetitive within themselves as the minutes wear on, each song has such a different personality that it ends up being excusable. With keyboard, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, and drums, the four members of Akudama construct songs that are sometimes happy, sometimes mellow, and sometimes melancholy, but almost always enjoyable.
The downside of the album, to me, is that it comes together seeming unoriginal and contrived. The music is good, the vocals are good, the lyrics are good- but something is missing. I feel like the ideas they have, such as an instrumental interlude and ender, should be interesting; instead, they just seem to be trying too hard. The focus should be the expansive and developed sound, but instead, little attempts at novelty come off as distracting. Generally, though, Akudama is off to a great start, and if this debut album is only a starting point in their growth, their potential is worth watching out for.
Review #2 - Ben Hsieh
Akudama's (and Endless Recording's) debut release Flying Over Morning is spacey, dreamy indie pop that relies on layered sounds, jangly guitars and anthemic vocals in the tradition of Dios, Tears for Fears, and Karate. Hailing from Weston, CT this band has a lot of the navel-gazing, lonliness and longing you would expect from a state most people forget about.
Reverb and "song titles without capital letters" aside, Akudama isn't afraid to throw in a driving drumbeat or handclap here or there so you don't get lost in waves of chimey guitars or flange effects. There is really impressive sound production - the record has a consistent feel that ties all of the songs very well together. Only a few notable exceptions like the Yanni-esque keyboards on the interlude and "crescent moon drops" clash with the bands other choices of warm, vibrant guitar, but I've never been a fan of interludes anyway.
With 12 full length tracks (plus two instrumental interlude tracks), this album takes a lot of time to get through - it is this humble reviewer's opinion that future recordings might be better served by giving listeners a more bite-sized block of music to chew on and releasing the rest as b-sides. Plus there were a few tracks, like "No Moon Out" that just tend to stumble over itself lyrically instead of really making you "drift away" like they quite obviously want you to. Still, this is an impressive and ambitious effort that by and large meets the very lofty goals it has set for itself.
In Champaign, we probably won't see Akudama tour here anytime soon, nor will their record (from endlessrecordings.com) be readily available at your unfriendly, evil corporate best buy (SHOP EXILE). But if you find yourself driving through the prarie on early cold winter mornings or want to have a record to sit indian style in the middle of yoru room and make a scrapbook to, this is highly recommended and worth the effort to have shipped to your house.
C'mon, even the multiple-piercing crust punks I know own a Keane album and watch 7th heaven regularly. If only they would shower.
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| by jennifer willis (KimDeal) / yvonne guzman (QueenOfEarth1023) | |
1. Laurel Blues
2. 599
3. Late Blues
4. Mine
5. What Can I Do
6. The Details
7. Sundown
8. Honeyslide
9. Written On My Face
10. The Morning
11. Forgive
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Band: Ida
CD: Heart Like a River |
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Review #1 - Jennifer Willis
Originally a duo between Daniel Littleton and Elizabeth Mitchell, Ida was formed in 1994 as a somber pop-folk collaborative. Ten years, six albums, and four record labels later, Ida is releasing its newest album, Heart Like a River. With the addition of bassist Karla Schickele, string accompaniment, and the maturity that comes from parenthood by the now-married Littleton and Mitchell, Ida has developed into a sophisticated, soft, melancholic folk-rock that is delightfully stirring.
This is the first time I have ever listened to this band. After hearing this album and reading about their earlier albums being voted 'the best albums you never heard' by Spin and The New York Times, I am intrigued to go out and buy their previous releases and turn them into the best albums I HAVE heard.
Heart Like a River is one of those albums that I would love to have on in the background during my normal everyday activities. The melodies are so soothing; the addition of string and piano accompaniment on the majority of the tracks makes the music absolutely serene. This is not saying that the lyrics are not noteworthy. Littleton poetically utters, "[there's] just enough light to see our faces give expression to the words we thought we didn't speak, then you asked me a question that I won't forget, even if I spend my life trying to live up to what it means," during "Late Blues." The evocative lyrics and magical harmonies between the three musician/songwriters make this album truly amazing. The album also has quite a variety, as not every track is a laid-back folk ballad. A few tracks are even quite up-beat, such as my favorite, "Honeyslide," with its cello ostinato that keeps the piece moving forward with a peaceful drive. The mixture of ambience and folk within the tracks makes a purely original work that is definitely worth your time and money.
Review #2 - Yvonne Guzman
Ida has had a long-standing career with six albums under their belt that have received much critical acclaim. Their latest effort, Heart Like a River, is no exception. After losing a record deal with Capitol due to a restructuring of the company that left many un-established artists to fall through the cracks, Ida was picked up by Polyvinyl Records to release the new album. The hard work and maturity of the New York City-based band are evident throughout the moody folk infused tunes that poetically tell stories of hope and love with a feel that is intimately personal in its delivery.
The strongest point in Ida's music that separates the group from every other mellow indie Yo La Tengo-ish band is the way the vocals work together to create a very intimate space. The emotion behind the words never comes off as forced or contrived. You get the feeling these people mean what they say and live by the music they present. As such, the music and words carry with them great weight. I also like that in between phrases there is a lot of space in the music for listeners to interject their own thoughts and reflections. I find that the musicians are at their best in the slower tempo pieces as opposed to the mid-tempo tracks that lean towards a more standard, almost pop, repetition and stasis. Electric guitar, piano, synthesizers and drums are interspersed with minimal use, but just enough to add character and depth to what might otherwise be acoustic folk.
I highly recommend this album to anyone who is into artists like Sigur Ros, Belle and Sebastian, or Yo La Tengo. Also, keep a look out for this band in the future. They deserve any recognition they get and with an album this good they will surely be getting more.
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| by gina provenzano (theredhead603) / megan kniepkamp (megnak) | |
1. North Shore, Music Therapist
2. Broken Clocks
3. Admit One
4. Tunnel Lights
5. Tax Season
6. Bicycle Paths and Crosswalks
7. Withhold
8. Famous Last Words (Hitchhiker)
9. Disappointed You
10. I’ll Drink to That
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Band: The Main Drag
CD: Simmer in Your Hotseat |
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Review #1 - Gina Provenzano
The first time I listened to Simmer in Your Hotseat by The Main Drag, I nearly fell asleep. Not that there was anything boring about their debut album, it's just that it is that sort of melancholy music that you could easily drift away listening to. My second listen I instantly was impressed with the lyrical and musical talent of Adam Arrigo and Matt Levitt, who with the help of a few friends on instruments ranging from keyboards to the Irish fiddle create very full sounding indie rock. The lyrics are all very reflective and show that songwriter Arrigo is at that point in his life where he's not quite sure where to go.
Some of my favorite songs would have to be album opener "North Shore, Music Therapist" and "Famous Last Words (Hitch Hiker)" which is the most catchy and upbeat track on the album. I liked "Famous Last Words" so much that I wish the band would have had more poppy tracks like it since I felt the other nine songs, while all good, became repetitive and depressing.
While they achieved nothing ground breaking I still overall appreciated Simmer in Your Hotseat and think those that like bands such as The Shins and Death Cab for Cutie will enjoy The Main Drag.
Review #2 - Megan Kniepkamp
As one of two bands signed to the new label Endless Recordings, Massachusetts-based The Main Drag has made a first-rate debut with Simmer in Your Hotseat. Overall, the lyric quality of the album is great. Right off the bat, "North Shore, Music Therapist," in which lyricist and vocalist Adam Arrigo seems to pine away for a patient in a slightly creepy but touching manner, is emotional and moving. Another high point is track nine, "Disappointed You" with lines like "If I die enough, I'll learn to live/I'll finally stop being in love." It's charming, in an Elliot Smith sort of way.
The music, also, is excellent. Arrigo's guitar ranges wonderfully from perky and upbeat to slow and sorrowful, with rich harmonies throughout. The other half of The Main Drag, Matt Levitt, lends a nice touch with accompaniment on violin. The two are joined by a wide array of bassists, drummers, and keyboardists and even the occasional Irish fiddle and banjo, lending variety to the album.
It is fair to say that I came to these conclusions after listening to the album for about a week. Upon first listening, I wasn't really that impressed, but after a while the songs grew and grew on me, convincing me that the album is really very good. Well-written lyrics and beautifully executed music make for a terrific collection of songs. So, my advice is to give The Main Drag a chance or two; even though it may not always seem right to be happily tapping your toes or bopping your head to lines like "I guess my life's just a big fucking joke" (track 10), with "Simmer in Your Hotseat," that is exactly what you may find yourself doing.
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| by dan schreiber (franzDan) / phil prather (AnalogBoy) | |
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(no track listings provided.)
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Band: Berry
CD: Sunday Morning Radio & The Manor EPs |
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Review #1 - Dan Schreiber
There are no track titles to the songs on Berry's Sunday Morning Radio, don't even think about finding anything else out about this band, I have no idea where they're from or how to get their music, but its quirkiness is what originally attracted me to this EP. It is in a brown lunch bag, folded in half, tied with twine, and with a one cent stamp on it. I also really like one cent stamps; I am currently trying to collect thirty-seven of them so I can mail a letter. Perhaps this is also why I like the band.
The songs are pretty good too, they definitely sound like Death Cab, but maybe a little more mainstream rockier. None of the songs particularly stand out though, I don't have a favorite off this EP. They are all pretty good, but not especially great. They are new of course, and have time to grow, their fault is that they are too new, obviously they dont have a contract of any kind, and I dont know if they play shows, but hopefully in a while they will. But, another part of my liking them is that I feel like I might possibly be getting in on Berry at the ground floor, and when they go triple platinum, I'll be like "I was listening to Berry when they were still packing cds for lunch!"
Review #2 - Phil Prather
Little is known about Berry. Their five-song EP, The Manor EP doesn't even run for 20 minutes. Berry could very easily be seen as a Death Cab for Cutie type of band. Their music is fairly mellow and relaxing. The male and female vocal harmonies are well performed and the songs are simple and make for easy listening.
Track 3 has somewhat of a Cursive feel to it, but Berry doesn't step far from their normal formula of relaxing indie-rock with male/female vocals.
Little information was provided with this release. No website, no track listing, or band member names. Death Cab fans might enjoy Berry, if they can find any information on how to get a hold of their music.
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| by casey best (happyhobo) / chris earnhart (Pocket) | |
1. i'm not you
2. final scenes
3. it won't break
4. as good as it seems
5. seem lost
6. the way you are
7. crash or steer
8. hal hartley
9. i think i left the keys on the table in the hall
10. the curmudgeon
11. tom soyer
12. i'm not gonna make it
13. everbody wants to suck
14. everybody wants to suck (part two)
15. don't let go
16. drop me
17. we spread out
18. i want what you want
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Band: The Double Standard Practice
CD: Beautiful Music for Ugly People |
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Review #1 - Casey Best
As mood music goes, The Double Standard Practice is great. When I tried my first listen, it was about midday and I was just checking e-mails. At that time, I thought that the album was mediocre. Luckily, I took my second listen as I went for a solo walk; immediately, the CD seemed much more fitting. The mellow cymbals and drums, repetitive quiet guitar, and smooth vocals seem perfect for anyone who's feeling particularly introspective.
My standout favorites are the back-to-back tracks "Don't Let Go" and "Drop Me." "Don't Let Go" is one of the faster tracks on the album, and immediately stands out on the album for this reason. "Drop Me" features muted keyboards and is perfect for any late-night walk among electric lights--trust me.
At eighteen tracks, I found that the CD started to wear thin about half-way through, but that just means that one can come back to it later and start where they left off. I'd recommend this album to anyone who likes introspective and mellow singer-songwriters like Elliott Smith.
Review #2 - Chris Earnhart
The Double Standard Practice is a singer-songwriter named Mike Clayton with an acoustic guitar, drums, and occasionally a few other instruments. And beautiful music for ugly people is an album with slow, interesting music and slower vocals.
The first thing that struck me about this album is that it felt very long. Upon further investigation, I found this to be due to the slow and almost too relaxing feel of all the tracks combined with the fact that there are eighteen of them. While the instrumentation changes between songs, it changes very little within songs, with almost every track having a very slow progression. Furthermore, while the singer has a great, soothing voice, the vocals change little throughout the whole album.
My favorite track ends up being "i think i left the keys on the table in the hall," which was a joint project with other local singer-songwriter, Dave King. It is still slow, but the addition of flavorful percussion and new vocals makes it stand out.
Mike Clayton's obvious skill makes me want to check out his other project, Mad Science Fair, but this album is much too slow and vocally homogenous for me. If you like slower singer-songwriter stuff, though, then you should check out Double Standard Practice as the talent is there. It is only when the album is taken as a whole that problems arise.
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| by casey best (happyhobo) / megan kniepkamp (megnak) | |
1. Pulse
2. Ghosts in the Clouds
3. Life in the Minors
4. A Drop in the Ocean
5. You’ve Done Enough
6. True Crime
7. Everybody Knows
8. Nothing Like You
9. What Goes Up
10. On a Limb
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Band: Stars Look Down
CD: Stars Look Down |
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Review #1 - Casey Best
Many times when I don't enjoy a CD, I can chalk it down to either the band being unskilled at their instruments or not fully understanding the genre. Occasionally though, I review a CD that I just don't like. Not particularly awful, but certainly not very good, Stars Look Down stands with its feet firlmly planted into the soil of mediocrity. They aren't energetic enough to keep the toes tapping, and I didn't find their lyrics unique enough to tap into any emotions.
The songs are basically just droning generic hard rock, with slow changing chords, unimpressive vocals, and simple choruses. The tracks seem pretty interchangable with one another, with no substantial hooks or memorable parts. In short, it's a kind of CD that one could listen to all night and not be able to separate one song from another. This works for the album in one way: no part of the album is any more difficult to listen to than another. As background music that won't pull your attention goes, Stars Look Down is top-notch. I probably wouldn't listen to it just for the sake of enjoying it, but if I ever need something to listen to while I read or write a paper, I'll know where to turn.
Review #2 - Megan Kniepkamp
Portland-based Stars Look Down have made a self-titled debut that is well-recorded and nice, but quite frankly overly ordinary. It's hard for me to pinpoint another band to compare them to, because there are just so many - this trio is radio music at its best. Electric guitar and bass highlight predictable chords, while steady drums accentuate the clear-cut four/four time. Over this, vocalist Trent Gay stretches his voice around obvious lyrics of love and heartache, including just about every metaphor and cliché in the book.
The high point of Stars Look Down is that very act of vocal stretching. Gay's voice is dynamic and haunting. His style is pretty common for a rock vocalist, but he uses his developed range to weave in and out of the instruments in a surprising and beautiful way.
Unfortunately, on this recording, these vocals are reduced to sounding a lot like a caged bird. This is not to say that the CD is bad. On the contrary, it's really very enjoyable to listen to. But there is nothing memorable or unique on this recording, nothing to set Stars Look Down apart from all the mellow rock bands which have come before and will come after. If you're looking for something that is in any way new or original, you won't find it here. However, if you're looking for a CD to pop in while you do some homework, Stars Look Down would be a good choice... but then again, chances are you already own something that sounds just about the same, anyway.
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| by dan schreiber (franzDan) / britt refakes (FabFlabs) | |
1. Rocky Run
2. President
3. Play
4. Why
5. Mary
6. After All
7. Purpose
8. Dead
9. 72
10. Answer
11. Andy James
12. Faith
13. Gone
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Band: Stephen Sebastian
CD: Play |
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Review #1 - Britt Refakes
To be honest, when I first read Stephen's biography and saw "Christian Rock", I wondered how good the album was. After listening to it, however, I would categorize it as anything but "Christian Rock". Sebastian's Play offers a refreshing blend of optimism and rock. It's just a fun album!
Sebastian's voice immediately reminded me of the lead singer of Bare Naked Ladies. His voice is also Tom Petty-like. It's just perfectly leveled. His voice is mostly accompanied by the guitar, which he plays as well. His songs are simple, relatable, and understandable. I think his theme's are definitely full of that 'something' we all can relate to. In track No. 2, he has a few words to say to the President. Another track, No. 3 addresses a former love. In this track, Sebastian asks, "Why?" Sebastian seems to be searching for answers throughout the rest of the album.
Sebastian's songs vary, because some like tracks No. 3, 4, and 5 are full of emotion. They are perfect for those "sad" days. I mean, they are a little depressing, but trust me, they won't leave you crying. Then in tracks No. 10, 11, and 12, Sebastian picks it up a bit. He introduces the harmonica, which surprisingly enough, he is also playing. Sebastian's songs are very dynamic, which make the album approachable to many different individuals.
Needless to say, Sebastian is talented. Play is a fun album that may bring back youthful memories. He keeps it simple. This is a great album to just "hang out" to. Sebastian definitely knows what he is doing. I can't wait to see what he has to come up with next!
Review #2 - Dan Schreiber
Although Stephen Sebastian is not untalented, his songs follow a pretty predictable pattern, and really don't beg me to actively listen to them. He's a standard singer-songwriter kind of guy, with his guitar and sometimes harmonica backing him.
On "President" he sings about the ... president. It seems like everybody who can play a guitar nowadays thinks that I want to listen to their political views. Sadly this is not the case. The rest of the album deals with love and such, but the songs are so slow and uninteresting that I find myself just pacing out. I'm just really not laid back enough to listen to this album the whole way through.
He is decent at playing the guitar, I'll give him that, but it's still not unique or that interesting in any way, it reminds me of all those guys who play real soulful and heartfelt tunes on their guitar to try and impress the ladies, well Stephen, it's not working on me! I'm not getting into your bed anytime soon, that's for sure!
Overall, Play is more an album that I would see myself listening to while I was buying grocieries or something, pehaps cruising down the frozen foods aisle, but outside of Colonial Pantry, I don't think I'll be listening to it too much.
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| by jessica cochran (lemmingcontrol) / chris earnhart (Pocket) | |
1. Hope Capacitor
2. 21 Dollar Bill
3. The Idea
4. I Am So Disappointed in You
5. Sounds Like America
6. RCMK
7. New Slow Song
8. Victory Song
9. Mystical Unit
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Band: Misk Heavy Manufacturing Concern
CD: Self-titled |
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Review #1 - Jessica Cochran
Misk Heavy Manufacturing Concern is mainly an instrumental band from Champaign. The music consists of guitars, bass and drums, your basic rock formula, and the songs "21 Dollar Bill" and "I Am So Disappointed in You" both have some sparse lyrics.
The instrumentation is a little lacking throughout this album. The songs are very repetitive and droning, and are too long for what material is in them. Most of the songs are about the same tempo, making it hard to distinguish one song from another. In spite of this, you can tell that the band members are good at playing their instruments, they just need work on the songwriting.
The lyrical aspect of the two songs that do have lyrics is pretty bizarre. The words are spoken, and in a slightly whiny voice that makes the words seem like a kind of joke. The words themselves are also bizarre, and not quite coherent. Spoken word does not fit well at all with the type of music Misk is playing.
Misk is not really interesting enough to pull off the whole instrumental thing, but not good enough singers or lyricists to pull off being a band with singing. If they got themselves a good singer/writer, then their songs might stand out from one another and be a little easier to sit through. I'd say they need a little work, but there are some promising aspects to this CD. You can check out mp3's on their website to see if you can find more in them than I did. www.chooserock.com.
Review #2 - Chris Earnhart
Misk is an instrumental band utilizing a guitar, bass, and drums to provide a hit or miss album, that is worth checking out for its new flavor and to discover another way a band can work without a lead vocalist.
What do I mean by hit or miss? I mean that the main problem with the album is that a few of the tracks are uninteresting and do not really add to the overall feel of the album. This means that the flow is marginally disrupted, and the flow is important in an instrumental album. This problem can be avoided by just skipping some tracks, but of course it is worth mentioning.
The strongest point of this album is that it is an instrumental album that one can rock out too. While my experience with instrumental bands is by no means extensive, I do have some. And many, if not most, instrumental bands have catchiness and rocking take secondary roles in favor of being more technical. This is not to say that Misk's music is overly simple, but that it provides fun and involving riffs that can draw listeners not ordinarily fans of longer and more technical instrumental music. I've also had the album playing on repeat for a few days now, so I would like to mention that it does not get boring easily.
I would recommend this album to many people, including persons looking into diversifying their local music collections and persons who like instrumental rock. If you are interested, then I would advise checking them out at www.chooserock.com.
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