I appreciate bands who assault their songs without looking back. Aniston does just that with all four tracks here, particularly in the instantly catchy but still rock oriented guitar riffs. At only 17, Blake Howell's drumming is one of the highlights, and is what kids at rock shows are hoping for to keep their heads moving.
Frontman Brett Howell's vocals clearly show his conviction in this project, are both engaging and endearing, and will likely draw comparisons to JT Woodruff of Hawthorne Heights. While all four songs are great, I can't stop listening to "Your Secret's Safe With Me" which will take radio by storm if DJ's know anything about great music. Side projects always make me nervous; you expect so much.
The Autumn Defense is no different, especially because bassist John Stirratt spends the lion's share of his time with critical darlings, Wilco. Joining the multi-talented Pat Sansone for their first album recorded while living in the same city, the duo serve up their new dish this coming January. If you love folk/pop/rock of the likes of Cat Stevens, America, Simon Garfunkel and John Lennon, The Autumn Defense is for you.
There are masterpieces here like the lovely and rich "Estate Remains" which does a perfect job of matching pop vocals to upbeat music with just the right amount of violin. "Feel You Now" is also a track you have to check out. But for all the great tunes, there are many I found myself skipping after the first listen.
This album tends to be a bit disjointed with derivative tracks like "Canyon Arrow," which feels like it is from a different time and place. While not their best album, this self-titled release is worth a listen. Two song demos often don't give a very good idea of where a band is going or where they are coming from, but give a listen to Fayetteville's Red Letter Reflection and you get a very good idea of what this duo is all about.
It's early Edwin McCain, meets beach, meets Christian rock. It's a heady combination, but for Curtis Ray and Michael Wright, both very good acoustic guitar players, it's one that works. To be honest, the production quality here is not great, which hurts the music.
"Wounds of a Lover" could do without the drums as for me they were only a distraction and did not stand up to the quality of the rest of the song. However, "Sail Away" is a fun anthem, making me wish for Wilmington and watching the sun go down over the ocean.
News RSS