Vintage Blue - Strike The Mics

Vintage Blue - Strike The Mics
2012, Vintage Blue

Every band hits that point where they either break down or break through.  Chicago quintet Vintage Blue hit that point in early 2010, and flew through the barriers like a speeding bullet.  Formerly known as Tanglewood, Vintage Blue went through personnel and stylistic changes, first noted on their 2010 debut EP, California Road.  Vintage Blue’s second offering, Strike The Mics, due out on Valentine's Day in 2012, finds the band picking up where they left off on California Road.  Coming into the album with no stylistic preconceptions, Vintage Blue had remade themselves in the tradition of great rock n roll.  Ben Bassett (vocals, lead guitar); Ryan Tibbs (vocals, rhythm guitar, harp); Will Crowden (drums); Cesar Corral (bass, vocals); and Matt Zimmerman (sax, keys, vocals) enlisted the help of producer Jamie Candiloro (The Eagles, Ryan Adams, Willie Nelson) to help them narrow their musical focus.  Consequently, Strike The Mics is the band’s most vibrant and enduring work to date.

Drawing on a wealth of influences and sonic palettes, Strike The Mics is a cathartic experience.  The album kicks off with the horn-laden blend of classic and alternative rock that is “Set You Free”.  Featuring the sort of chorus that sticks in your head, this song is a great introduction for the band, and the sort that could launch a pleasant association with commercial radio.  “Unchained” is a high-energy rocker at full gallop.  Strong vocal harmonies and a modern rock feel complete the sound in a number you’ll find it impossible to simply sit through.  Vintage Blue strips things down for the start of “California Road”, building into a fuller sound that’s melodically pure and well constructed.  The simple chorus is easy to sing along to, and you’ll find it recurring in your head once you’ve heard it.

“Speak” is funky folk/rock with a funky back beat.  The chorus sounds like it could have been written by Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see this song embraced by commercial radio programmers.  Vintage Blue has shown flashes of Americana influence throughout the album, but that influence breaks free on “Sleep On This”, a down-home rocker about being in love with an ever moving target.  The song is incredibly catchy, with a pop sensibility that simply won’t quit.  “Here To Stay” digs more into Vintage Blue’s emerging country/rock sound amidst a laid back sound and a big chorus you won’t soon forget.

“Just Breathe” is a smooth, classic-rock power ballad with refinement, originating more from a working-class rock lineage than the glam rock sound that so often characterizes classic power ballads.  This is the highlight of the album, both compositionally and instrumentally.  The guitar work is primo, and the vocal harmonies absolutely click.  “Help Me See” is one of those quietly catchy tunes that sneak up on you.  Solid on the first listen, but it will grow on you with each successive pass through.  Vintage Blue sounds like a cross between Toad The Wet Sprocket and Wilco here, displaying the mellow pop sense of the former and the full Americana influence of the latter.  “Great Divide” is an “Ah” moment; a forlorn love song built around a lovely finger-picked guitar core.  Do not be surprised if you end up with this number on repeat.  Vintage Blue bows with “True”, a musical epilogue that plays like the closing credits for a movie.  Catchy and upbeat, this song will get stuck inside your head and stay there.  The horns come back here and support a sound that’s danceable and pop-radio friendly while showing some songwriting substance all at the same time.  This should be a concert favorite; and in an era where great pop music was truly appreciated this would be a top-10 hit on the radio.

Vintage Blue does so much well on Strike The Mics that it’s difficult to summarize.  Ranging from singer/songwriter balladry to classic rock to modern rock and alternative, the band is eclectic in its range and songwriting talent.  Vocalists Ben Bassett and Ryan Tibbs are both capable front men, and the band plays with an energy and chemistry that are absolutely undeniable.  Vintage Blue has managed to take the core experience of the band’s history and mix it with new energy and new blood to come up with a winning rock and roll formula.  In another era these guys would be mega stars.  As it is, this is the sort of band you don’t soon forget.  A live show is bound to be an experience you won’t forget, and Strike The Mics is likely to become a treasured and oft-played part of your collection.

Rating:                  4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more at www.vintagebluemusic.com.

Review: Bums Lie - Stumblin & Mumblin'

Bums Lie - Stumblin & Mumblin'
2009, Bums Lie

To fend off questions from rabid Sublime fans, no, this isn't another Sublime side project. (Sublime released an underground record a number of years back under the band name BumsLie). Bums Lie is a Charlotte, North Carolina quartet with a serious love of Reggae, Ska and Punk who adds touches of 1960's Motown and Roots Reggae into their music. Since coming together in 2001, Bums Lie has released three albums and opened for Damien Marley, Yellowman and King Django among others. Bums Lie's latest CD, Stumblin' & Mumblin' is a live recording from a show a 2009 show at the Visulite Theater in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Stumblin' & Mumblin' opens with Brokedown Soldier, a wartime tale with a Reggae beat. It's a highly musical arrangement with a strong melody line. Edge Of Civilization is guaranteed to get you moving; it's probably one of the more enjoyable tunes I've heard of late. Just A Game has a gentle Reggae arrangement with real potential for Pop crossover. This is a first class piece of songwriting that deserves real attention. You Do Me Wrong is another song with real crossover potential. I wouldn't be surprised to hear this tune licensed for movies or television in the future. The album closes out with three "FM Editions", presumably radio-friendly versions without objectionable language: Edge Of Civilization, Captivating and Just A Game, before launching into an encore of Stand By You.

Bums Lie's Stumblin' & Mumblin' is decent. There's not a lot of variety in sound or dynamic on the album which causes Stumblin' & Mumblin' to drag on, particularly toward the end of the disc. The voices and instrumentation are all fine, and it’s clear from the disc that Bums Lie has a solid local and regional following. I don't know if Bums Lie dispays enough here to justify being a big time band, but a solid career is certainly within reach.

Rating: 2 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Bums Lie at www.myspace.com/bumslie. You can purchase a digital download of Stumblin’ & Mumblin’ at Amazon MP3.

Review: The Supervillains - Massive

The Supervillains – Massive
2008, Law Records

The Supervillains are back. Following up on their popular 2006 release, Grow Your Own, the Orlando, Florida Ska/Punk quintet are back with Massive, their most refined and accessible album to date. Produced by James Wisner (NAS, Justin Timberlake, Shakira); Massive features appearances by Slightly Stoopid’s Kyle McDonald and Inner Circle’s Kris Bentley.

Massive opens with You Got Me, sounding a great deal like Sublime. The Pit hearkens back to the early days of The Mighty Mighty Boss Tomes, in a pure Ska/Punk extravaganza. Home Again is a wonderfully catchy Pop/Punk hybrid with great harmonies happening between the two vocalists. My favorite track on the CD is the surprising cover of Billy Joel’s Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song). Aside from the reggae beat this cover is amazingly faithful to the original and very well done overall. St. Thomas is another curveball from The Supervillains; a honky-tonk style ode to the fringe benefits of a visit to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Other highlights include Overdose, Iru Kanji and Snow White.

The Supervillains are a highly entertaining Ska/Punk outfit with a serious penchant for chemical relaxation. For this reason the album is one parents might want to think twice about before buying it for your child. That being said, The Supervillains might be one of the better Ska/Punk hybrid bands going. Massive certainly could be, there’s enough commercial fodder here to keep The Supervillains in consistent radio rotation until at least mid-fall. It’s a great listen.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The Supervillains at www.myspace.com/therealsupervillains or http://www.thesupervillains.net/. You can purchase a copy of Massive at Amazon.com.