Stephie Coplan & The Pedestrians

Stephie Coplan & The Pedestrians – Stephie Coplan & The Pedestrians
2012, self-released

If Stephie Coplan can’t find a path to where she wants to be, she makes one.  Her ex-boyfriend tried to tell her she couldn’t make it in music.  Her response?  She dumped him, wrote a song about him (“Jerk!”), and proceeded to get 35,000 hits on YouTube.  Formed in March 2011, Stephie Coplan & The Pedestrians have won or placed in music competitions up and down the East Coast of the U.S.  In that time they have already shared stages with the likes of Cake, The Delta Spirit, Reptar, Bess Rogers and Matt Duke.  Stephie Coplan & The Pedestrians released their self-titled debut EP in January, and even though it’s been out a while now, it’s never too late to catch on to something new and exciting.

Stephie Coplan & The Pedestrians kick things off with the aforementioned “Jerk!”, decrying an ex-boyfriend who did not support her dreams, but whom she continues to be drawn to.  Interpersonal milieu aside, this is an incredibly catchy rocker with big commercial potential.  Coplan’s acerbic take on the situation borders on the tragic/comic divide, but there’s real pop punch behind the power chords.  A Ben Folds-style humor/sarcasm informs “Take Me Back To The Suburbs”, a tongue-in-cheek anthem about suburban flight that will get stuck in your noggin.  “Caroline” is a wonderful little biograph in song, capturing the essence of the subject, who manages to be an amalgam of someone we’ve all known.  Perhaps what’s so impressive is the sonic construction and chemistry of the band, which seems to move almost as one organic unit most of the time.

“Make You Mine” is a song of quiet desperation; of subjugating yourself and your own interests to get what you want.  Personally dysfunctional, but the song is incredibly well written and has an overpowering sense of truth/realism.  “We Don’t Need Much” is a beautifully atypical pop/rock love song that gets down to the heart of what love is about.  The stripped down arrangement artfully represents the philosophy of the song, and it’s clear that Coplan and her band think deeply into the creative process to find the art of each moment rather than simply whipping out songs.  The E.P> closes out with radio edits of “Jerk!” and “Take Me Back To The Suburbs”.

Stephie Coplan & The Pedestrians strike a near-perfect balance between pop and rock and roll on their self-titled, debut EP.  Coplan’s voice is reminiscent of Tanya Donnelly, but her writing style is more in line with that of a young Ben Folds.  Stephie Coplan & The Pedestrians is the sort of debut EP that goes out of print when the artist is eventually signed to a major label and one day gets sold as an expensive collectible on eBay.  The songwriting and sound here have a rough-hewn quality that is charming, but what really impresses is Coplan’s musical vision and her ability to turn a phrase that’s both intelligent and witty while creating some incredibly dynamic sounds on the piano.  It’s not surprising that The Pedestrians are anything but; talent like Coplan’s draws talent.  This is a fabulous debut.

Rating:  4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more at www.stephiecoplan.com. 

Review: Mammut - Karkari

Mammut - Karkari
2009, Record Records

Reykjavik, Iceland’s Mammut is something of a musical anomaly. Composed of three women and two men, all in their early twenties, Mammut is quickly becoming one of the most distinctive and talented young acts Iceland has to offer. Mammut has already received mention from Rolling Stone, and their latest CD, Karkari, has produced three #1 singles in their native Iceland. Mammut made big waves at SXSW with an intense live show, and have toured with Belgian rock band dEUS.

Karkari opens with Endir, a frenetic and crunchy alt-rock tune that will make you want to get up and dance. Lead vocalist Kata sounds a bit like a cross between Kate Bush, Tanya Donnelly and Dolores O'Riordan, if you can imagine such a thing. Giempra opens with a vicious bass riff before turning into a fairly straight-forward Alt-Rock tune. Not speaking Icelandic I couldn't tell you what the song is about, but it's a great listen. Svefnsykt breaks out the Punk energy and allows Kata to sing and wail along with impunity. Gun keeps the energy high; Don't listen to this one in a tight enclosed space (subway, city bus, etc.) as you'll find yourself knocking into people around you. Dyradottir opens with a piano part reminiscent of Tori Amos. The piano sets itself almost in contrast to the more lyric vocal line in one of the highlights of the album. Eg Veit Hann Kemur Fljott has an urgent and mildly angry energy punctuated by some wonderful guitar riffs. Also be sure to check out Drekasongur and I Leyni.

Mammut has an interesting sound that might have real commercial legs. The language barrier is a significant one particularly in North America, but Mammut has enough going for them that with English vocals they could gain a lot of attention in the US and Canada. Karkari is an unusual, occasionally sensuous, occasionally hard rocking musical experience. Check it out.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Mammut at www.myspace.com/mammut or http://www.mammutmusic.com/, where you can purchase a copy of Karkari using PayPal, or you can download the album from iTunes.

Review: Fugitive Kind - You're Being Watched

Fugitive Kind - You're Being Watched
2009, Fugitive Kind

Fugitive Kind lead singer Lydia Marsala sounds like the mid-point of a triangle between Milla Jovovich, Chrissie Hynde and Johnette Napolitano. Her voice is alternately deep and sultry or high and heavily soaring. No matter what range she's in she's distinctive, and she is the perfect balance for the heavy guitar rock that supports her on You're Being Watched. Comparisons to Queens Of The Stone Age, Muse, and Live should be expected, but there is a pulsing mix of energy that develops between Marsala's vocals and the instrumentation that is more than just friction.

You're Being Watched opens with a funky guitar rocker called Little Piece. Marsala throws herself into the vocal line like it’s her life's only purpose; the band answers in kind in a performance full of anxious, nervous energy. This is perhaps the catchiest opening track I've heard yet this year; a great rock song that would get airplay on chutzpah alone. It's been a while since a female rock vocalist could push this much personality through a song (think Gwen Stefani before she went Hip-Hop/Pop). Over-Thinking It has a big, Modern-Rock sound and a vocal style that has a shade of Tanya Donnelly to it. Don't Waste My Time, my second favorite song on the CD, is a great Modern Rock anthem with an almost punk/dance vibe going on. Break Now is my favorite, and the by far the heaviest song on the disc. This song should be a Modern Rock hit. Wait has an interesting heavy ethereal rock sound that is a great change of pace, and Good-Bye Song is a nice closing song, bringing out all of the best qualities in Marsala's voice.

Fugitive Kind is a great rock band musically, filling tight arrangements with layers of sound that are interesting, rhythmic and, if not original, at least well done enough to make them worth listening to. Lydia Marsala's voice woven into the instrumental net built on You're Being Watched elevates them to something special. Marsala has a great voice, but there's something about the mix here that pushes everything up a notch. The album itself is a bit uneven in its flow at times, but well done throughout. In the old days of LPs you could have done a heavy and soft side with this material. For now, You're Being Watched is a great start.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Fugitive Kind at www.myspace.com/fugitivekind or http://www.fugitivekind.com/. You can purchase a copy of You’re Being Watched at www.cdbaby.com/cd/fugitivekind2, or you can download it from iTunes.