Album Review: "Transmission" EP by Rogue Sounds

Band: Rogue Sounds
Album: Transmission

Personnel: Dillon Geidt - Guitar
Justin Whisler - Drums
Zac Neuenfeldt - Bass

Released: July 2010

Produced, Tracked & Mixed by: Eric Mileham

Recorded at Noise Pollution Studios

Mastered by: Ed Brooks



Website: http://roguesounds.bandcamp.com/
http://roguesounds.net/

Tracks

1.Decibel 06:19
2.Virtue 02:45
3.Vice 03:54
4.Transmission 07:12

Houston, we have a problem. Don't worry, Rogue Sounds, the Orange County-based instrumental 3 piece Rock Band, are here to save the day. Rogue Sounds' first EP "Transmission" sonically documents what it would be like to be on Apollo 13 spinning out of control in space with no hope of ever returning home - and all the stress and adventures that come along with such a plight.

"Decibel," the lead-off track on the EP, starts with engine noises and distress signals. The main guitar riff comes in and the rest of the band follows almost immediately. The record has a good sound quality and is mixed well. The band moves effortlessly through segues as they build a soundscape of sci-fi images. The bass sound is full and thumping along with the drums. There is a part in the break down where the drums remind me of Black Sabbath's Iron Man. The electric guitar is swirling and churning power riffs. Is this is what an instrumental indie progressive metal band sounds like? If so, it's pretty cool. It seems like an effort of combining different elements of music, but holding on to certain themes.

What Rogue Sounds are doing is somewhat original and challenging, because they are taking on a the challenge of instrumental metal and putting an indie slant on it. Can this be entertaining? Yes and no. I feel that it can be, but just like with any music, if it becomes too repetitive and mundane, it will become boring. There have to be elements of change and dynamics that will keep the listener interested. After a while "Decibel" starts to fatigue the listener. It's got great ideas, but it's kinda long.

"Virtue," second song on "Transmission," starts with sounds of waves crashing onto the shores of a red planet far from any human existence. The album starts to get funky with this track and things start to get interesting. Going from spare sounds to deep reverbed-out industrial sound. It keeps the listeners attention. It becomes unpredictable and you wonder where it's going next. This kinda stuff I like. So far best track.

"Vice" is the next track. It has an intro of palm-muted picked guitars. Not sure what direction they are going with this song, but it sounds like a soundtrack to a dark chase through alley ways and maybe a demented take on the theme song of Miami Vice combined with the theme song of Knight Rider. This track seems like it has the least direction on the album. I feel like I just get lost in the twists and turns of this song. Like by the end you don't know where you are.

"Transmission" the title track off the album comes in with blips and glitches like something out of an Aliens movie. A strange voice sounding instrument sneaks out from behind the buzz of noise for a second like prawns hiding under the floor boards in District 9. The build up is good. The drums come in first with a heavy beat on the floor tom and then the whole band joins. It gets heavy at 1:25 into the song. The guitar swells and falls out. This is an epic piece of work, reminds me a little of "...And you will know us by the Trail of the Dead."

Overall, Rogue Sounds needs to be careful with the long jams. They walk the fine line between senseless jamming and something meaningful. Most of the time though just when they are about to fall off, they bring it back.

The "Transmission" EP has some memorable riffs. All the players in Rogue Sounds are accomplished musicians. You can tell that that they are experimenting with their sound and have room to grow. I look forward to hear what they sound like on their next outing. If they stick with it, they have plenty of years ahead of them. If they stick with it. - A. Polk


Rogue Sounds are giving away their album for free at their bandcamp. You should download it and put it on while your working at your RPG bookstore or at your local record shop. http://roguesounds.bandcamp.com/




Rating Key
1 POLK- Don’t Bother
2 POLKs- Give it a listen or two
3 POLKs - Make part of your daily routine
4 POLKs - Must Own, Buy, Illegally Download NOW!
5 POLKs - Don’t tell anyone about it (it’s your personal treasure)

Album Review: Lion Cub "Seneca"

Band: Lion Cub
Album: "Seneca"

Personnel: Chad Jewett: Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Electric Guitars, Bass, Synthesizer, Fender Rhodes Piano, Drum Machine Programming, Samples, Shaker
Chris Grabowski: Acoustic Guitar, Samples
Chelsey Hahn: Xylophone, Synthesizer, Bells
Alex Mazzaferro: Organ
Wil Mulhern: Drums
Trevor Johnson: Vocals
Jacob Goldman: Drums, Harmonica

Released: June 2010

Recorded and Engineered by Jacob Goldman

Produced by Chad Jewett and Chris Grabowski

Website: http://lioncubband.wordpress.com/
http://www.myspace.com/lioncubband

Lion Cub’s album “Seneca” may be best described by a statement on the opening page of the Digital Book that accompanies it:

“Seneca is an album about many things: life, death, God, faith, love and our collective past, present and future. It has meant the world to me from the day I began writing it in 2005. It continues to be the piece of work I am most proud of, and I truly hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening. Don’t wait too long to fall in love.” - Chad Jewett

Talk about a guy wearing his heart on his sleeve. Jewett and his ensemble, which go by the name Lion Cub, stay true to these ideas and themes through out “Seneca” and at times open up so much they can make you feel uncomfortable, but remember that’s a good thing.

The opening track comes in with with gentle guitar, Fender Rhodes Piano and then a synthsizer. It’s ethereal and familiar at the same time. There is reverb and a build up that makes you wait in anticipation, will this deliver... it’s pretty good. Who would think to open an album with a song that clocks in at 6:54. It sets the tone with drum machine, xylophone, biblical references and ends eerily with someone reading a verse out of the Bible. Very Johnny Cash.

The second track “Southern Salt Baptist” has live drums. The lyrics come in, “like when I first saw you, like when I first heard you say.” This reminds me of Okkervil River. Lion Cub have no problems coming up with sing along hooks.

The songs on the album remain interesting lyrically and with their changing instrumentation there are always new sounds to experience.

“Meridian” is probably the best track on the album. It has everything someone would want in an indie pop gem.

Cool familiar and ambiguous lyrics : “I was in the army once, I felt my new blood, like a hiccup, like a sudden love Born on a covered bridge, your mama singing hymns, like a toothache, like a broken limb.” Check!

Not typical Instrument Combinations: Acoustic Guitars, Electric Guitars, Bass, Organ, Synthesizer, Marimba, Drum Machine Programming, Shaker, Whistling, Live Drums. Check!

Then a catchy chorus that will not let you go even if you stick your head in washing machine: “We’ll fix every hole in your heart And we’ll pull out all those poison darts.” Check! It was the stand out track.

In “Other Names for Saints” Lion Cub tackle religion, life and death head on. Jewett sings fervently “We spent our Saturdays writing new names for saints, coloring in that bible page /A handful of change left under a train, the Word of God on an old man’s face /And the only books I’ve understood were on life and death”. The song builds from a small drum machine and organ to a full band with live drums, bass, and electric guitars, xylophone
tambourine, and bells.


If you are looking for some good indie pop look no further here is Lion Cub - one part Americana, one part folk, one part dance pop. You can see this clearly on songs like “Our Hound” and “Seneca (Hatchet)” the last track on the album.

Lion Cub open their album with the lines:

“You’re up at four before the moon’s been gone, and you set the table to set breakfast on /And watch the fox pick the feathers out of the lawn/And so forth and so on.”

and end with:

“And if the devil ever tries to tempt me, I’ll tell him “I don’t believe in hell” /So you can bury that hatchet at the bottom of a well.”

Good and bad things seem to have come for Lion Cub. They tell their story through other people’s stories. Even if some of the songs have melon collie themes and lyrics, there always seems to be a slight smile behind them. Sometimes there ain’t much you can do except live your life and tell the Devil to fuck off. - A. Polk




To hear Lion Cub’s music visit: http://lioncub.bandcamp.com/album/seneca
They also have a cool digital book, with pictures perfect for New England Fall, and a story by PILGRIMS by Chad Martin Jewett

Next Show:
Polk Records Icebreakers
Oct 14 2010 7:00P
Church of Boston Boston, MA


Rating Key
1 POLK- Don’t Bother
2 POLKs- Give it a listen or two
3 POLKs - Make part of your daily routine
4 POLKs - Must Own, Buy, Illegally Download NOW!
5 POLKs - Don’t tell anyone about it (it’s your personal treasure)

Brahman - "A Long Time Coming, A Long Way Away" Album Review

Band: Brahman

Album: "A Long Time Coming, A Long Way Away"

Personnel: Sam Attaya - Bass
Tom Campbell - Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Ethan Fortin - Lead Guitar
Will Matern - Drums

Released: 12 August 2010

Recorded by Travis Hagan at Starfish Audio Productions in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Mastered by Nick Zampiello and Rob Gonnella at New Alliance East in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Cover photo by Megan Kelley
Cover design by Dan Suder

Website: http://www.myspace.com/brahmannoodles4evs
http://brahman.bandcamp.com/

In a time where everyone is trying to make the next dance floor filler and trying to sound like the next Passion Pit, there are still bands who are trying to make music for those times when you just want to space out and feel something. Brahman have recently released what appears to be their first full-length album entitled "A Long Time Coming, A Long Way Away."

This album immediately reminded me of early Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral, "Emo" bands that had substance and tried to create atmosphere and mood with their instruments and effect pedals. The album's lead-off track called "Bourbon" starts with wailing feedback and fuzzed-out guitars over a rolling punchy drum beat that clears up to sparkling guitar picking - and in come the vocals, "You might never know the truth at least you will come close." Hey, wait, these guys might actually have something interesting to say. Later in the song this phrase is sung: " With the smell of bourbon on your breath that she seems to ignore, you're forgetting those old dreams you had before."

Storytelling has always been a part of rock n roll. Vague or direct, people usually enjoy hearing something they can relate to. Brahman do a good job of mixing lyrical stories with complex rhythms and instrumentation.

In "All Things Come to an End" Tom Cambell sings, "Oh fate's a funny thing." It sure is! He seems to be dealing with break up and deciding whether to leave or stay in a relationship, but the decision isn't really in his hands. Some songs are as vague as the titles they bear. "Skinny Blondes in Skinny Jeans" and "Why I Punch Holes in Walls" have lyrics that are somewhat hard to decipher and so I was left just making up my own conclusions as to what they were actually about.

The electric guitar playing on the album is fluid and well executed. The vocals are clear and sweet at times and other times they are screeching howls that seem about to break at any moment, but don't. Throughout the album the drums and bass work in sync to hold the band together.

My only critique of this album would be that Brahman doesn't bring anything too new to the table. They didn't really push to be too different from others in this genre. Maybe on their next effort they will push the edge a little more and leave themselves to experimentation.

This kind of album would make any indie band famous back in 1995-2000, and hopefully it can still do the same in 2010.

My favorite track on the album is "By the River," a nice acoustic song that features Campbell's voice. He sings "It seems strange sitting by the river where I always used to play/ I came here with my father on every rainy day/ I'd pretend I was someone else I was speaking only in clichés" as sounds of storms and memories quietly roar under picked guitar strings.

This does not come off as fake or ungenuine. Some bands don't know how to escape the clichés that are so easily accepted and found when people try to make music. It may have been a long time coming for Brahman, but they aren't a long way away anymore. They are much, much closer. - A. Polk





Rating Key
1 POLK- Don’t Bother
2 POLKs- Give it a listen or two
3 POLKs - Make part of your daily routine
4 POLKs - Must Own, Buy, Illegally Download NOW!
5 POLKs - Don’t tell anyone about it (it’s your personal treasure)

DANCE, DANCE, DANCE

Polk Records is putting on a dance night every first Thursday of the Month! Hear the best dance music ever created by human hands and also get to see a live band or two!

Check out the Flyer!





Dance, Dance, Dance welcomes two bands in September at the Tavern at the end of the World


The New Highway Hymnal

and



Mudflap Junior Jones

New Order, Arcade Fire, Kid n Play and Prince will be played!

See you tomorrow!!!











This month

Streight Angular New EP "Alright!"

Streight Angular have released a new EP called "Alright!" check it out at the
Streight Angular Bandcamp Page!




Love this song at the Hype Machine!

Read an interview with the band at the Music Coliseum webiste!


Check out a review of the song at the Grinding Tapes Blog!