Category: Bands/Comps/Splits
Brook, Bear and the Elephant ‘Montreal’ Album Reviewed at Foster’s
Here’s what we know. Nate Laban and Eric Ott have both enjoyed individual successes in their own respective songwriting endeavors. We also know that they’re good friends. So, it makes sense then that at some point in time they’d join forces and pump out some creative jams. That time is now.
Under the band name Brook, Bear and the Elephant (joined by other Seacoast musical vets Sean Yadisernia on lead guitar and vocals, and Dan McGary on drums and vocals), Laban and Ott have crafted a collection of nine tunes that push the bounds of each other’s general comfort zones. The result is grandiose, and the collective whole of their debut, “Montreal” is eclecticly interesting and wholly satisfying, from the influences that earned both of them individual praise to the inclusion of a little “Pet Sounds” era Beach Boys psychedelia pop, and contemporary Tweedy-ish playfulness and experimentation.
The most impressive part about the collaborative journey these fellas have embarked on is the successful forging of two uniquely different voices and outputting memorable vocal harmonies throughout the entirety of the record. I’ve long written about how Ott’s voice is reminiscent of Michael Stype, and the same is true of Laban’s Elvis Costello-ish punk-injected croon. Mash ‘em up, and you get some interesting results.
One of the highlights for me is the track, “Normal, IL.” Among the record’s other eight tracks one of the two gentleman take the vocal lead, while the other harmonizes in accordance with the general feel of the tune. On “Normal, IL,” both take the lead for a turn (while the underlying harmonizing still takes place). The track is fairly mellow compared with the rest of the offerings, but is cut right in half by a solo that you might find as a working piece of a Traveling Wilbury’s song structure. Upon completion of that slicing six-string flame, both Laban and Ott finish out the tune in unison, as the lead, levels both equally matched. It’s mighty fine.
Sam Hill – Sonja
75OL-216 Sam Hill – Sonja CD
$10.00 S&H Included
Digital download is available here
Track Listing
1. 37 Rings 3:06
2. Serpents 3:59
3. Bullet 5:24
4. Scourge of the Warm Blooded 3:12
5. Wait For Me 3:00
6. Lithuanian Maiden 5:34
7. Electric Funeral 4:58
Sam Hill is the devil. The band originally formed in 2013 to be the backing band for some of Nate and Cam’s pop-punk tunes, but with the added influence of Jason and his harder hitting tastes turned into what is now Sam Hill. All members of the band have been playing regionally for 20+ years and have been friends for just as long. Themes on the record range from tree people (37 rings), to life taking a form of a bullet, to ice giants (scourge of the warm-blooded), to the love of the woods by Maine’s own North Pond Hermit: Mr. Christopher Knight (Wait for me). The song ‘Serpents’ refers to an experience of losing 3 friends in a freezing winter river and being the last to see them alive. Lithuanian Maiden was a piece inspired by a piece of artwork by Joshua Belanger, a local NH artist.
Feng Shui Police video for “Shit, Man”
Groundhawgs – Lets Get Dark
75OL-211 Groundhawgs – Lets Get Dark CD
$10.00 S&H Included
Digital download is available here
Track Listing
1 Mr Walks On Water
2 Dogs of El Agustino
3 Lets Get Dark
4 Double Nickels On The Dime
5 Floored
6 Mercury and Mass
7 Apartment Down The Hall
8 Oblivious
9 Out Of It
10 Darkwaters
The Hawgs are back with a deftly crafted batch of NUMBERS that will quench your thirst for TIGHT, HARD ROCKING, POST PUNK FARE. From the get go to the final bell, LET”S GET DARK will scratch your rock itch!
Karma Rocket – Parts to Pieces
75OL-203 Karma Rocket – Parts to Pieces CD
$10.00 S&H Included
Digital download is available here
Track Listing
1. Basements
2. Disassembler
3. Providence
4. Telemetry
5. Karma Slut
6. Sun & Sludge
7. In The Car
8. Add It Up
Ingredients:
Sing-along harmonies
Pop-punk songwriting
Killer vocals
Dual guitar solos
Smart, hard-hitting grooves
Directions:
„« Mix together the catchy hooks of pop music with the
energy of new wave and punk. Add a heaping spoon of
post-punk a la The Pixies, Sonic Youth and Husker Du.
„« Swirl in a pinch of industrial New England city grit. Stir
until thoroughly blended.
„« Cook for 22 minutes, preferably in your car with the
stereo volume up and the windows down.
Some or all of us have performed with The Providence Singers, Rudy Ray Moore, The Brimstone
Assembly, What Cheer Brigade, The Panorama Jazz Band of New Orleans, Gallus Mag (Texas
psych rock mavens), The Big Heads of Pluturnas, and Radio Silence Sweetheart.
“Uptempo, fun core, party punks Karma Rocket have been rocking so hard lately they’ve been chipping their teeth. At rehearsal! Very metal.” – Providence Daily Dose
The Sound reviews Sam Hill’s new album ‘Sonja’
Nate Laban was born to rock and roll. He’s been an integral part of the Seacoast music scene for more than 20 years, always with a contagious smile on his face. His career has spanned a multitude of solo incarnations and bands including Brook, Bear and The Elephant, The Frosting, and Wallos. Over the years, he’s done it all, from anti-folk to skate punk to country; his quirky storytelling works in most any genre. When ex-Satan’s Teardrops drummer Jason Lara steered Sam Hill, their newly formed group, toward playing metal, it was a natural fit. Their debut album, “Sonja,” is a fresh throwback to metal’s classic days of mythical creatures and tales.
It’s not surprising Laban’s vocal stylings and pop know-how work well over galloping riffs and Tony Iommi-influenced solos. His powerful voice and registry have always been suited for metal. Never one to settle into a genre or project for long, Laban indulges in this chance to let loose a torrent of epic songs. The result is an inventive alchemy of an accomplished songwriter’s take on a new genre. Recorded by the band, “Sonja” has a slightly lo-fi sound that gives it a nostalgic feel — think “Day of Reckoning”-era Pentagram meets newer Saint Vitus.
The opener, “37 Rings,” is a stoner metal jam that chronicles a tree being cut down in winter; it doubles as an introspective story and features a chorus that shows off Laban’s hook-y aptitude. “Scourge of the Warm Blooded” displays his writing chops in an epic about a frozen giant who has come to destroy man: “He has had as much as he can take, enormous the patience, equal in rage.” And their cover of Black Sabbath’s “Electric Funeral” is spot on. In Sam Hill, Laban has found a transcendent medium for his harder-edged endeavors. Let’s hope it lasts
The Lincoln Tunnel video for “Damn, I Wear It Well”
Motif Reviews Jodie Treloar’s ‘Voila!’
Jodie Treloar’s debut EP Voila features five tunes on the crossroads of indie folk and alt-country. Voila opens with “Marionette,” which reminds me of a stripped-down version of The Cranberries with the breezy guitar style and Treloar’s rich vocals. “Credit Score” is a driving indie folk nugget propelled by some heavy punk rock acoustic strumming. “I’m OK” is probably the natural single here, thanks to the sweeping chorus and fancy guitar work. The EP closes with the bare bones “Lovelorn Lullaby” that ties an intimate bow on the EP. This is a recommended pickup for fans of the Ryan Adams and Sharon Van Etten brand of thrash
Brook, Bear and the Elephant ‘Montreal’ review in The Source
Merging the distinct styles and personalities of songwriters on record can be a difficult endeavor. The musical camaraderie of Eric Ott, Nate Laban, and Sean Yadisernia is a testament to this process and its potential. Their collective experience in music spans decades and includes well-known Seacoast acts Mercuryhat, Eric and the Anxiety, and Laban’s solo incarnations. They’ve earned several nominations for various Spotlight Awards, including one this year for best rock act as Thrift Store Ransom, and Ott has taken home two awards for his songwriting.
“Montreal,” their first full-length album under the name Brook, Bear and the Elephant, is an ideal balance of two seemingly competing styles. Ott’s contributions are rooted in folk, pop-Americana, and alt-country, while Laban’s have evolved out of an eclectic, but decidedly heavier, punky sound that, even when unplugged, always produce considerable power.
“Tired Moon Eyes” exemplifies the lyrical and musical intersection of their respective styles. Here, Ott’s Bob Dylan-influenced folk has been energized, now channeling Jeff Tweedy over Laban’s driving, palm-muted riffs that recall Tom Petty rather than Fugazi. The upbeat song culminates in a chorus that’s cheerfully laden with poppy “ba ba ba bahs,” but masks a darker meditation on mortality.
From the Wilco-inspired “Crushing Cloud” and Ott’s signature folk sound on “Strung Photographs,” to the humorous and choppy punk n’ roll of Laban’s “5 Inch Knife,” the record remains cohesive despite its diversity. On the standout track “Death of a Salesman,” Laban’s infectious melodies bounce on a powerfully simple two-chord structure. “I could never kill myself, trying to be like someone else,” he repeats. Having benefitted from each other’s influence, Ott and Laban aren’t trying to be like anyone else — they’re reaping the rewards of evolution.
diePods, The – II
75OL-214 The diePods – II
$10.00 S&H Included
Digital download available here
Track Listing
1. Wizard With a Wheel
2. Die A Little
3. Cabbage Night
4. Pass The Sack
5. Lifer
6. The Sneeker
7. Turnaround
8. Pissin’ On A Post
The diePods, from Newport R.I, have released their second album aptly titled “l l.”
“Influenced mainly by rock and hardcore, the diePods have once again successfully infused these styles into diverse and original songs. Fueled by bold guitars, angst driven vocals and full throttle drums.” – Sir Edward Quoteworthy M.D.