Wireless

Going over Wireless' myspace page, the first sense was of a band that wants to rock out, wants to MAKE IT. After a cursory listen I felt like the best option in reviewing Wireless would be to enlist the aid of my 14 year old daughter. She patiently listened, and told me she'd like them if she heard them on the radio. Not a ringing endorsement, but fourteen year olds tend to regard anything a parent asks them about as automatically and fatally infected with uncoolness, so take it with a grain of salt. For all I know she's singing their songs 'n' praises to her squealing friends as we speak.
My own impression is one of a catchy band with a dense sound, at least on the three tracks I found on their Myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/wirelessharwich). Nothing revolutionary, but nothing that made me mash the keyboard desperately to escape. "Sold Us Out" is anthemic and driving, with a nice singalong chorus. I'll actually download this one and add it to the playlist. "Bad Dream" has a little more honkytonk to it, with a nice effect on the voice. "I Won't Be Free" is the least interesting to me of the three, a bit standard and expected.
I'd say Wireless is a good add to the playlist, especially if you drive a lot and want to sing along. I bet they rock out live...they have a kind of "over-studioed" sound that always makes me think of a group that loves killing on stage, riffing and going off on solos and whatnot.

From their myspace.com page:
"Hailing from Harwich, a miserable Essex coastal town, formerly a significant port but now in decline and left for dead, Wireless were launched to alleviate the boredom of their depressing home town.
Taking their time to develop their song-writing and stage-craft, Wireless drew on the experience of local bands and influences such as Doves, The Jam, Stereophonics and The Beatles to make sure, when they hit the stage people took notice. And they did.
Quickly building a fanatical loyal following, the bands blistering set of original songs has earnt them a reputation for exhilarating live performances and an excellent night out. Regular visits to London with coach-loads of fans and a summer festival gig playing to 4000 people in support of The Levellers have cemented their reputation as one of the best bands on the Essex scene.
2007 will see Wireless pushing hard for the recognition that is surely due."

Paul - Guitar and Vocals, Dan - Bass and Vocals, Rob - Guitar, Dave - Drums
Harwich, Essex, UK



"saved by the bell - rock rating"
kelly


huh? what the hell does that mean?

God Damn Trio - Review

i'm lying bed with my power book on my lap listening to a band known as God Damn Trio. since it was me who had originally found them for the steamroller a few months back, i was quite happy to write about them for my first steamroller review. they hail from stockholm sweden. sweden? hey wasn't abba from there? having lived in canada my whole life and having never been to europe, the only thing i know about sweden is that they produce great hockey players, and that chef from the muppets was pretty funny.

anyway back to the "g.d.t." i've just started the 4 songs on their myspace page for the second time, and first time through had some ups and some downs, but mostly ups. we'll start with them. these guys can rock when they want to, no doubt about that. great guitar riffs, awesome production, and solid playing. the song "intoxicated" was definitely my favorite. the tempo change after the chorus shows the maturity in the song writing, along with a very progressive bridge featuring a great groove change, followed by a trip through a claustrophobic, or maybe even paranoid departure, only to lead us back to the final chorus. almost a bit.... dare i say it.....zeppelin? either way, i liked it. they took a pretty solid rock song, and pushed it ahead of the pack.

my next favorite had to be the part punk, part fuzz rock, part ska, pop rock song "said and done". really catchy, but perhaps too many drastic changes. i do like the diversity in the style changes, but just when i find myself really getting into a part, like the intro, it's followed up by this almost tongue and cheek sounding poppy verse. then it busts into a catchy chorus, and then another very interesting bridge. i think it's just the verse i don't care for because the more i listen to it, the more i like it, but i just keep wanting the verse to end.

"all to me" has great potential. it's the type of song that would probably just rock if you were to see it live, but i think something got lost in the studio translation. again, great playing, catchy hooks, but this time it's vocals. the singing is lacking some identity. the more melodic parts seem a bit unstable, and the kicked up choruses aren't all that big. i keep wanting those choruses to just explode vocally and they kind of disappoint.

my least favorite tune had to be "weak life situation". this is the attempt at a pop rock, radio friendly song. again i really like the music, but the melodic vocals in the verses just aren't working for me. the chorus is good, the bridge is solid, i'm just not digging the vocals. it just seems like the chilled out parts are too chilled and shaky sounding, and the harder parts are just not rockin' enough.

over all, i believe the "god damn trio" has a lot of talent, and i plan on listening to "intoxicated" a few more times before i sleep tonight just to ensure i have good rockin' dreams. extra props to the drumming on that one too, nice and solid. i listen to the vocals on that one, and wonder why he didn't sing with that same passion in his voice on the other tracks. i read on their site that they're writing for a new record right now. with the potential this band has, i wouldn't be surprised if these guys find themselves leaving stockholm soon to come tour my corner of the globe. hey guys, guest list maybe? come on, i'll bring some canadian beer? i want to hear more from the "god damn trio" and i would certainly recommend checking them out.

God Damn Trio

"saved by the bell - rock rating"
a.c. slater


huh? what the hell does that mean?

jds308