Album Review: of Architects ‘demo.’
Some of my favorite current music originates with a one-man band. Youth Lagoon, Atlas Sound, and Toro y Moi are the first artists that come to mind. While some of these artists expand their sound by adding a backing band, the foundation is set for me from the initial one-on-one introduction. The music is stripped and the message is personal. There is a special appreciation by discovering one artist who creates a project, by himself, from beginning to end. I get the same feeling when I am reading a good book. After turning the page on chapter 3 I begin to hear the author speak to me on a personal level. The themes become more powerful and the experience becomes more intimate. Oftentimes, we fall in love with these books because of their names or covers. When this shot in the dark selection hits a genuine level of satisfaction, it overpowers me with emotion.
The writer I am referring to I hardly know anything about. A quick link introduced me to of Architects and his project demo.. His name is Adrian, he is from Chicago, and he plays guitar, bass, and percussion. That is all I know about him. As I listen to demo., I not only hear themes of pain and regret, but more importantly I am struck with the sound of desire. Adrian is borderline anonymous, but shares more with me then I deserve. In the song “spirit desire.”, Adrian discloses his fears through out the entirety of the track. Lines like, “I get scared that you’ll leave me soon even though we call each other every afternoon, it’s true” make me feel like I hold the key to the darkest bowels of someone’s inner thought. This is someone I know hardly anything about.
The mystery behind Adrian’s of Architects project will not cause me to go digging any further for information. This is a patient man that is sharing more than we deserve. The acoustic, lo-fidelity framework behind his message is brilliantly put together. Adrian uses “Elephant” as his sounding board as he pulls out his electric guitar. The distortion mixes perfectly with the agony coming from his voice. This is certainly the loudest track on the record and has me wondering whether this album about one love or many? I am not sure, but I am confident in saying the girl in “Elephant” is about the one that slipped away. A painful experience that I am honored to hear.
Of Architects is a dark enigma that wants to be heard, but maybe only once. I am not sure if Adrian will arise and put down the final piece of his puzzle, but I do not think it matters. He is one man that has given us a sneak preview into his darkest secrets. This is a beautifully painful donation for those who will listen.
Connect with of Architects via Facebook | Bandcamp
Written by Brett McGrath
Album Review: Magnetic Island LP
Brooklyn, NY’s Magnetic Island dropped a self-titled LP yesterday. The release is their first full-length effort. The band weaves distorted guitars, resounding percussion, and melancholy vocals, building them up until they’re ready to break. Fortunately for the listener, the sound never breaks and Magnetic Island continues to ride this unlikely wave. In this writer’s humble opinion, the band hits the equivalent of an auditory home run. Exhibit A: “Whatever You Wanted” – an instrumental eargasm of Strokes-like proportions.
As with most things worth making, this debut did not arrive without its fair share of tears and toil. The release date was initially scheduled for the fall, before distance caused a delay. Magnetic Island recorded the bulk of the material with Pete Weiss at his Athens, VT studio, before returning to their original home base of Brooklyn. This led to a lengthy process of phone tag and email exchanges for the mastering phase of the project.
Whatever disrupted, long-distance accident created this album, it worked. The delay of a release can often lead to overthinking and tweaking of songs until they wind up shells of their original selves. This doesn’t appear to be the case with Magnetic Island. They just needed time for the stew to boil and the flavors to meld. Exhibit B: “When You’re Finished” -a dense, dark, guitar-driven track that hits with the force of a freight train.
On the first few listens, Magnetic Island has inserted its name into the conversation of front-runners for my favorite new artists of 2012. That being said, it’s early yet and I excite easily. Only time will tell whether their debut LP will be one that I carry with me throughout the year. One fact is certain, I don’t plan on putting it down anytime soon. For my closing argument, I leave you with Exhibit C: “Acadia”
Now, go buy the damn thing via Magnetic Island’s Bandcamp page. A digital download will run you $5, or double your investment for a signed copy of the CD. Who knows, it may be worth something one day.
Connect with Magnetic Island via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Rob Peoni
Album Review: Blue Moon Revue ‘Phases’
Daily or even weekly readers of this blog have likely picked up on a pet peeve of mine. I take issue with the trend amongst bands labeled as “indie” to strive unrealistically for complete originality with their music. These bands appear to shun any relic of the past. All too often this leads to gimmicky distractions that serve to cheapen the art rather than enrich it.
Fellow music blogger Zach Hart indirectly spoke to this problem in his terrific retrospective “Pitchfork at Fifteen: WLFY on Pitchfork” saying,
“I understand that time and tastes change, but good music and the personal experiences that shape individual taste do not. I live by the thought that good music is good music regardless of genre, album cover, band name, or the look of the band.”
My disdain for this failed attempt at a new sound stems from a longtime appreciation for the blues. A genre whose songs are so shared and incestuous that tracing their origin becomes a near impossibility. The strength of a blues performance lies in the artist’s ability to relate emotionally to the material. The authenticity comes from the musician convincing the audience that these same 12 bars are as meaningful now as ever.
Indianapolis’ Blue Moon Revue is an independent rock band. Underappreciated, underfed and unsigned – they qualify in every sense of the word. Their latest release Phases was recorded under the guidance of Alan Johnson at the Static Shack. The album is a satisfying mix of hungry, energetic songwriting and airtight instrumentation that blends into soulful, funked-out rock.
Phases kicks off with the punchy, distorted blues of “Lil Mama.” We featured a video for the song in a post just before the band’s December show at Radio Radio. On the first spin, you’ll be certain you’ve been listening to this track for years. Lead singer Matt Marshall begs unabashedly for the returned phone call of an unresponsive lover, while Dave Sullivan mimics the singer’s desperation on his Les Paul. Good stuff.
“Waiting On a Wire” serves as another of Phases’ more successful tracks. Here, Sullivan bounces along with a stabbing horn line, while bassist Andy Salge takes the reins on vocals. I would place Salge amongst this city’s strongest bass players. In an earlier era, he would have made the ideal session musician. It’s rare to find a band that rotates front men effectively, but Marshall and Salge trade with ease, each bringing a unique voice without destroying the band’s identity.
“Waiting on a Wire”
I am also thrilled by BMR’s decision to bring keyboardist Gary Mielke into the fold on a full-time basis. Pianists often serve as unsung heroes in the classic rock formula. While I may not argue that point here, Mielke’s play adds a texture and depth to BMR’s songs that I look to see expanded in the future, particularly in their live shows. His addition has, to this point, been subtle but effective.
Blue Moon Revue may not be a band at the cusp of conquering the musical landscape. Maybe they don’t have “the look,” but several simple facts remain. These guys are more talented than many acts with larger regional and national followings. They sound like what they are: Midwest gentlemen that were raised on classic rock, funk and blues. Rather than run away from the music that brought them here, they chose instead to embrace it. If that is a crime, then it is a crime worth committing.
Download a copy of Phases on iTunes. Indy folks, don’t miss BMR’s 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Party, featuring a few covers of the Crescent City’s finest at Locals Only on February 17th. Bloomington residents can check out the new material at Bear’s Place on February 24th. Hard copies of the album are available at a few locations as well. Eat, drink, listen local. Click below for a free stream of Phases:
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Connect with Blue Moon Revue via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Rob Peoni
Thought on Tracks 