Daily Sundial
In a world of hip-hop and pop, there is usually one alternative band that stands out from the rest. We Are Scientists is that band. The album “With Love and Squalor” is one of the most unique albums in a long time. The opening track “Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt” has the ingredients of a perfect make out song. “My body is your body and im just not anybody and if you want to use my body go for it,” swoons Keith Murray.
“With Love and Squalor” has an honesty that is rarely heard in music. The songs deal with drunken nights and misplaced emotions. Despite the weight of these subjects, the songs sound extremely optimistic. This rock trio combines humor, intelligence, creativity and soul and packs it into a neat little package, punched up with a shiny bow.
The debut effort by this trio crams down riffs and hooked beats to try and arrest the listener’s attention. It tries to force you to swallow before you’ve even chewed.
“The Great Escape” shines as one of the best songs on the album. The song deliverers a catchy guitar chorus sprinkled with bass lines. Guitar solos reverberate before exploding into the vocals. We Are Scientists is surely guaranteed to inspire fits of joy among indie rock fans around the globe.
The potential this band holds will certainly develop with a disciplined effort and should show itself when their next recording effort.
The future looks bright with “Scientists” around.
Daily Sundial
The album “Morning Over Midnight” by Phoenix based band Fivespeed will have you not only playing air guitar but air drums as well. Each track will have you screaming along while bobbing your head to the timely beats. Fivespeed’s sound is slightly reminiscent to Linkin Park or P.O.D. but less experienced.
Fivespeed drives full speed ahead on this album without looking back. They never slow down or turn back; instead they swerve around corners and drive across borders. The last track “Misery Loves Company” is the only soft song sung by lead singer Jared Woosley. His determined lyrics speak out on this softer serious song.
Cities like Phoenix, where summer temperatures often reach the hundreds, seem to birth new rock bands every year producing some of the loudest and most determined young rockers in music.
Daily Sundial
Los Angeles band Mellowdrone debut their album “Box” on March 7, 2006.
The carefully composed music drones through your eardrums, spreading its melodic trance-like riffs down your spine then up again numbing your brain. The album combines rock guitar, synthesized samples and poppy anthems.
Jonathan Bates singer, songwriter and guitarist hypnotizes you by weaving his mildly depressing lyrics with his upbeat guitar riffs. “Should I feel sad? Should I feel happy?” Uncertainty and inconsistency mirroring the reality of the world surroundng us is found on “Box”.
Every song has a different feeling, different sound. As the album progresses the songs develop into a surprisingly upbeat and distorted differing from the previously set mood. If the first half of the album puts you to sleep, the second half wakes you up. Thirteen songs are compiled on this album allowing the listener enough time to meditate, drive long distances, sleep, and dream or just stare into space.
Mellowdrone will play the The Viper Room tomorrow night.
Virginia may be contacted at ane@sundial.csun.edu
